BEE PASTURAGE. 141 



water or in the edges of the Tule lands, where it 

 grows very large and yields immense quantities of 

 honey, of the best quality in the State, and scarcely 

 inferior to any in the world. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



In all places where this valuable grain is raised, it 

 becomes an important accession to bee pasturage. 

 A field of buckwheat yields an incredible quantity 

 of honey, which perfumes the air for a considerable 

 distance around. When the weather is favorable, 

 the bees store honey from it very rapidly, faster at 

 times than they can build combs to receive it. I 

 have seen them fill pieces of old combs laid close to 

 the entrance of the hive, with honey, and have 

 known colonies to fill four boxes of honey, or about 

 fifty pounds, during the continuance of buckwheat. 

 This is by no means a common occurrence, and goes 

 to show that this honey harvest is one of great im- 

 portance to the bee-keeper. Buckwheat may be 

 sown about a month earlier than usual, to furnish 

 pasturage to come in about the close of clover, to 

 great advantage. 



I have thus shown that various kinds of flowers may 

 be cultivated to produce abundant pasturage to supply 

 the bees bountifully with stores, from early spring 

 until autumn. If bees are still permitted to starve, 

 it will be the fault of their keepers in neglecting to 

 provide for them ; and they will consequently reap 

 the reward of their negligence in the loss of their 

 bees. Only the most important kinds of flowers 



