7 2 
FOLLOWING THE BEE LINE 
are going to furnish the nectar and when they 
are about to bloom? 
The blooming period of nectar-oroducing flowers 
and their quantity in the vicinity of the apiary must 
be accurately observed. If all our bees are in one 
place—and that at home—it may not take us far 
afield, but we will find that, in covering the territory 
within a radius of a mile and half of our bees, we will 
make many interesting discoveries and see many 
interesting things. Especially is this true if the visits 
are made at different times throughout the season; 
this is particularly true if one lives in the country. 
We will be astounded in finding that only half a 
mile from home there can exist a thicket in which 
we have never before set foot; or a clearing in the 
woods, or a part of the swamp never before explored 
—unexplored because they are off the usual path and 
nothing has been sufficiently strong to draw us to 
them. A note book in which are jotted down the 
dates of blooming of different honey plants will be 
interesting to compare from year to year. 
Some years an entirely new nectar source will ap¬ 
pear, such as wild carrot (Queen Anne’s Lace) 
which may be entirely nonproductive the next year. 
Nectar secretion is dependent on certain conditions 
of atmosphere—temperature and humidity—also 
