60 
MANUAL OF APICULTURE. 
FiG.4G. — Dwarf Essex or winter rape (Brassica napus). 
and ornament as well as for timber, catnip for sale as an herb or to 
secure its seed, and melilot for forage or green manuring are the only ones 
which, under present conditions, might in some cases be profitably 
cultivated. There may be introduced with advantage, however, all 
such honey-producing plants 
as, with one sowing or plant- 
ing, will readily propagate 
themselves and without cul- 
tivation extend their area 
along roadsides and over 
waste lands, always except- 
ing of course such as may 
become troublesome weeds. 
For this purpose most of the 
plants referred to above are 
available, and many others 
which like these are adapted 
to one portion or another of 
our country might be added, 
as, for example, pleurisy root 
or butterfly weed (Asclepias 
tuberosa)j Indian currant or coral berry (Symphoricarpos symphori- 
carpos), viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare), lady's thumb (Polygonum 
persicaria), horsemint (Monarda citriodora), willow-herb {Epilobium 
an <just [folium), etc., but of course it can not be expected that they will 
thrive and thoroughly establish themselves without further attention, 
except in such localities as present very favora- 
ble conditions for their growth. Furthermore, 
there is always the risk that a plant which 
yields honey abundantly in one part of the 
country may not do so in another region, even 
though it grows well, so that it is necessary 
in most cases, especially Avith wild plants, to 
test them anew before extensive introduction, 
no matter how well established their reputation 
as honey producers may be elsewhere. 
Among plants of economic value in other 
directions fruit trees and shrubs are to be 
counted as of much importance to bees. The 
apple and the cherry yield well, the others less, 
though the gooseberry, were it more plentiful, 
would be of considerable value. Strawberry 
blossoms are, in general, visited sparingly and 
yield only a small amount, but the raspberry, coming later, when the 
colonies are stronger, is a most important source, greatly liked by the 
bees, and furnishing as fine a quality of honey as is known. Ten acres 
Fig. 47 
-Summer or bird rape 
Brassica napus). 
