and t/s Economic Management. 



47 



m to i 



CHAPTER VII. 



PLANTING FOR BEES. 



HAVING shown how to secure good stocks, the next thing 

 is to provide employment for such vast populations 

 throughout the summer. In the best of localities there is always 

 some interval when nothing of importance is in flower, while 

 many districts are so poor in honey-producing plants as to be 

 quite unsuitable for carrying on bee-keeping extensively. Judicious 

 planting, therefore, will make the culture of bees a safe and 

 reliable investment, as the crops will be near at home, and always 

 ready for the bees, whenever the. weather is favourable for the 

 secretion of honey. Indeed, with a "sea of bloom" close at 

 hand a surplus often accumulates during dull weather, when 

 otherwise the stores of the hive would be diminishing. 



Do not think of planting mere patches of various kinds of 

 flowers ; such are but a " drop in the ocean," and il you cannot 

 provide more than a few acres, then put in some one thing that 

 will come in as a main crop, if your district is short of bee forage; 

 such as white or Alsike clover, the latter by preference. If your 

 surroundings are fairly good, then let the crop be arranged to 

 come right for a time of scarcity. 



Area required for loo Colonies. 



You may be able to spare many acres for a continual supply 

 and in that case provide not less than 20 acres for each succeeding 



