diaet or honey plants. 175 



The Aster grows from one to three feet high. It sends forth one 

 main stalk, with several branches, each of which is covered with small 

 ■white flowers, varying from one to five hundred blossoms on a stalk. 

 They oontinue to open for weeks, until heavy frosts kill them. Slight 

 frosts do not effect the blossoms, and bees can generally find honey in 

 the late, blossoms, until cold weather confines them to the hive. 



Of this plant, Mr. Langstroth says: "If there is any plant which would 

 justify cultivation exclusively for bees, it is the borage. It blossoms 

 continually from June until severe frost, and like the raspberry, is fre- 

 quented by bees even in moist weather. The honey from it is of a 

 superior quality, and an acre would support a large number of stocks." 



CATNIP, MOTHEEWOBT, AND HOABHOUND. 



These three plants blossom about the middle of June, and remain in 

 blossom from four to six weeks. The flowers are very rich, and are 

 visited by the bees at all hours and in nearly all kinds of weather. Mr. 

 M. Quinby says: " In a few instances, I have known the catnip to last 

 twelve weeks, yielding honey during the whole time. If there is any 

 plant I would cultivate specially for honey it would be the catnip. I 

 find nothing to surpass it." 



Perhaps it is best to cultivate only such plants as are useful otherwise 

 and incidentally yield much honey. Catnip seed scattered in fence corn- 

 ers, stony places, or along hedge rows, which are not kept in cultivation, 

 will pay well. 



This plant is cultivated largely in some parts of New York for its 

 dried blossoms, which are used by the manufacturers in taking the nap 



