William Lawson, a famous English 

 gardener, writing in 1618, says nothing 

 so improves a garden as bees. "A 

 store of Bees in a dry warme Bee- 

 house, comely made of Firboards, to 

 sit and sing and feede upon your 

 flowers and sprouts, and make a pleas- 

 ant noise and sight." Many a row of 

 hives may still be seen in those parts 

 of the country where the march of 

 civilisation has not been too rapid, 

 sitting not far away from the kitchen 

 door, and beneath the shade of the 

 comfortable lilacs. 



A little poem by Clara Doty Bates 

 tells, this very prettily : — 



" The sun shone warm, and the hlac said, 

 ' I must hurry and get my table spread. 

 For if 1 am slow, and dinner late. 

 My friends the bees will have to wait .' 



" So delicate lavender glass she brought. 

 And the daintiest china ever bought, 

 Purple tinted and all complete ; 

 And she filled each cup with honey sweet. 



