and its Economic Management. 53 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE AGRICULTURIST AND FRUIT 

 GROWER. 



THE value of crops suitable for bee-forage has been shown by 

 the preceding chapter. The bee-keeper who is also a 

 farmer therefore has every advantage and can make profit both 

 ways. But while it is necessary that the extensive bee-keeper 

 should also be a farmer, it is quite as important that the 

 agriculturist should keep a few stocks for the sole purpose of 

 fertilising the clover and other crops he may save for seed, if it 

 happen that few bees are cultivated in his neighbourhood. 



It should be distinctly understood that the more bees that 

 can be obtained as fertilising agents, the more seed will be 

 perfected ; as well as more fruit. Single hives have been placed 

 in cucumber and peach houses, and though some bees are of 

 course lost in the first instance, the younger portion of the 

 population never having flown outside, have no difficulty in 

 finding their way about. The results have been reported to be 

 most satisfactory, and the plan should be more extensively 

 adopted. 



Strange as it may appear to those who are inclined to grumble 

 at the visits of the bees to their fields or gardens, it is a simple 

 matter of fact that if the honey be not gathered it will only 

 evaporate, and none is secreted after the flower begins to fade. 



