1 14 THE BLESSED BEES. 



full of bqneset, and goldenrod, and aster, all of 

 which yield much good honey. It was a bewilder- 

 ing array of sweets for the joy of the eager bees. 

 They worked on buckwheat until about eleven 

 o'clock each day, then, if the sun was bright, the 

 flow of honey seemed to cease in buckwheat, and 

 they betook themselves to other flowers, on which 

 they worked until darkness drove them heavily 

 laden to the hives. Bees were getting more abund- 

 ant now, and pasturage was even better than when 

 buckwheat first opened. 



Frosts usually come in my vicinity about the 

 tenth of September. Only a few days more would 

 surely close honey-gathering for the year. I watched 

 the weather with much interest. From the im- 

 mense area of bloom the bees were gathering rapid- 

 ly. Every day of good weather now meant nearly 

 a thousand pounds of honey for my hives. The 

 weather continued delightful, and the hives again 

 grew heavy with their luscious stores. September 

 nth there was danger of a frost. At six o'clock 

 the thermometer stood at 43 F., and the weather 

 was growing colder. If the night continued clear 

 the mercury would be below 32 F. before morning. 

 But happily a change of wind brought propitious 

 clouds, and we escaped. In the morning it was 

 warmer again. ' Four days more of beautiful 

 weather, then on the afternoon of the fifteenth 



