THE HONEY-BEE. 
1G3 
apiary is situated in a country abounding with such 
natural productions as the industrious insect can turn 
to account. Large heaths, sheltered with woods, are 
extremely productive of honey, as the wild thyme and 
other flowering plants with which they abound, are 
not cut down by the scythe ; and the heath itself re- 
mains in bloom till late in the season. The plane- 
tree, the whole willow tribe, the furze or whin, the 
broom, especially the Spanish kind, furnish a rich 
store both of honey and farina. The bees do not 
feed indiscriminately on every species of flowers ; 
several of tlio most splendid and odoriferous are 
wholly neglected by them, while they select others, 
the flowers of which are extremely small, and not 
apparently possessed of any very valuable qualities. 
Moreover, they give a decided preference to those 
spots where a great quantity of their favourite flowers 
grow together. On the continent, fields of buck- 
wheat afford a copious supply, though the honey ex- 
tracted from it is of a coarser kind ; and in our own 
country, the white clover (Trifolium repens), will, 
in fine weather, be found thronged with them, while 
scattered plants that afford more honey are neglected. 
When a variety of bee-flowers flourish in the same 
field, it is said they will first collect from those which 
furnish the best honey ; if) for example, several 
species of thyme grow together, they prefer the 
lemon thyme, which is of a richer fragrance. 
The Bee-master will do well to supply his fa- 
vourites with such flowers, &c. as are not found 
growing spontaneously in his neighbourhood. In 
