The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-05-24
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.
Provide Honey Plants for Periods

ITOflCe money GIantS Tor HeflOOs OF
Scarcity.-There is period after white
clover and bass-wood flowers have dis
! appeared, from about the middle of
July till some time in August, when
bee pasturage becomes very scarce.
This is particularly the case in dry sea
sons and in districts not favored with
honey plants.
The beginner in Bookkeeping may not
be aware of this fact, or of the disad-
vantages that follow; we therefore offer
few suggestions as to how these may
best be obviated. Whenever bees are
compelled to live on reduced rations,
the activity of the colony falls off. The
queen stops laying, and the rearing of
young bees consequently can not go on.
But the breeding should, under all cir
cumstances, be stimulated at that sea-
son, 80 as to have large army TO gather
honey from the fall flowers, and to make
the colony strong for wintering. Bee
keepers, therefore, during this period Of
scarcity either feed back part Of the
honey gathered earlier in the season, or
supply the needed pasturage by cultiva-
ting plants that will furnish contin-
uous bloom.
Feeding docs well enough: but it is
not the normal state of bees to require
feeding. They are active, independent
creatures that can be in perfectly
thrifty condition, and perfectly happy
If we may use the expression-only
when they gather nectar from the stores
of nature. And, besides, feeding causes
some trouble and loss of honey which
they have spent time and work in gath
ering and the bee-keeper in extracting
The best plan is, therefore, TO provide
pasturago to carry them through periods
of scarcity. There is large number of
honey producing plants that might be
cultivated for this purpose, many of
which we have tried we shall, however,
recommend only those we consider to be
mos VALUABLE.
These are Mignonette, several mem
bers of the Mint Family and the
Crucifere. Mignonette, Reseda odor-
ata, is probably the best one of all, on
account of its furnishing a continuous
bloom from June until checked by the
autumn frosts. 1t is very profuse in its
yield OF nectar, and has the additional
quality of pertaining the air most deli
ciously over large area. Next in
value we should put the members of the
Mint Family, and of these especially
Catnip, Nepeta Cdtaria, and Motherwort,
LsonwuS Cardiaca. These do not bloom
SO long as the Mignonette, but while
they last they are perhaps richer in
nectar than the latter. We have seen
no plant 50 freuuented by bees as
the Motherwort, and that al all times,
wet and dry. The cruciferous plants,
Mustard and Rape, are also good. Rape
blooms the earlier, and as it is in flower
in about four weeks from the seed, it
can be made TO furnish continuous
pasturage from June till frost. Seeds
OF these should be sown near the
apiary, on patch varying in size with
the number OF colonies, from few
square rods to one acre. Prepare the
land we'll and SOW them all in rows;
Mignonette about seven inches apart,
the MINIS and Rape nine inches, and
tall Mustard eighteen inches apart.
Catnip and Motherwort are perennial.
There are but few flowers to bridge
the period from fruit blossoms to
white clover. The Honey Locust
blooms then and also White Sage. The
latter might be cultivated without much
trouble.