So A Modem Bee- Farm 



I have found that for all small seeds such as clovers, the 

 ground should be finely pulverised and rolled before the seed is 

 sown. Do not rake or harrow after it is in, but use the roll again 

 and again, when the ground is dry. 



Whatever may have been said in the past, it must be distinctly 

 understood that Red Clover {Trifolium pratense) is not a bee 

 plant. I have had considerable honey from it when the weather 

 has been just right, following a dry time for the growth of the 

 second crop, but should the plant have a favourable season for full 

 development, the bees do nothing upon it however fine the 

 weather may be. A crop yielding only one year in four cannot be 

 tolerated. 



When growing plants for honey which have no further use, one 

 must make the most of the land under cultivation. To permit 

 the ground to be occupied by a single variety taking two years to 

 arrive at maturity is sheer folly ; and even with those flowering 

 yearly something else must be growing at the same time. Thus- 

 in preparing for Melilot clover, put in borage seed at the same 

 time, the latter flowering the first season. Mow the whole in 

 July when the clover is getting rather long, and a second crop of 

 borage will come on, while the clover will shoot out stronger. 

 Cut all again in September and if harvested or used as ensilage 

 some use will be found for the mixture as fodder. The second 

 year, however, the Melilot will be useless for feeding after it has 

 blown, and the growth will have been so rapid that little borage 

 will be seen ; but the latter will again come up quite thickly the 

 third year, to be cut twice as before with the new Melilot plants. 



Again, when white clover is put down for bees, the ground can 

 be filled with crocus bulbs, planted about six inches apart. They 

 thrive exceedingly well, and being very early will be found useful) 

 without in any way interfering with the clover, which can be 

 mown with the crocus grass in July, when a second crop of 

 clover follows; thus we have three crops yearly on the same 

 ground, without further cultivation; the second crop of clover 

 being allowed to seed the ground. 



