The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-08-19

cause alone,-'the cutting down OF our
Eastwood timber-is due the frequent
failure of the honey crop of late years.
In the years that have gone by, the
farmers always had plenty Of honey all
over this State, At the present time !
know OF farmers who have hardly had a
taste of honey for the last four years,
but have had to feed to keep their bees
alive. This is because of the failure
of white clover, which is DOW the only
source Of a large crop of honey We have
left but it fails to produce crop every
other year, and sometimes for two or
three years in succession, SO that often
the bees must be fed in the fall for
winter.
Now, these are unpleasant facts to
contemplate, that every farmer and bee.
keeper we'll knows, and it is useless to
blind our eyes to truth longer, but if
the industry of beekeeping is to pros
per, there must be found a remedy.
and it must be applied soon; and that
remedy is in planting the Eastwood or,
as it is known by the German people,
the linden. The cause of the failure
of the white clover this year has been
the frequent heavy rain falls for the
past two months in this locality. Only
day before yesterday we had precip-
itation of at least four inches, amount
ing almost to flood
Ten years ago dug up three little
Eastwood trees, and brought them home
in my buggy, and planted them on the
rear end of my lot in this city. They
are now about eight inches in diameter,
and not only make a must beautiful
shade, but have bloomed heavily for
the last five years; and every year
have noted carefully the amount of
nectar secre!ed, and can truly say that
there is no other plant or tree in the
world that yields SO abundantly Of nee
tar as the Eastwood neither is there a
honey gathered from any other plant or
tree that is superior to its flavor, and
the color is almost as clear as clover
honey.
The secretion of nectar goes steadily
on, night and day, and not as in many
kinds OF plants, little while in the
night and early part of the day. How.
ever. the calyx of the flowers of the
Eastwood fill up during the night with
nectar. so it can be plainly seen in the
morning in the five cups of the calyx !;
and have often watched the bees take
up the nectar, and how quickly they
filled their honey sacs and were away to
their hives. | know Of no other flower
upon which the bees can get their "filr'
so quickly except the flowers of the
tulip tree or wildwood, which yields a
strong, dark colored honey, uppalpat-
able to many.
These facts prove conclusively that
in this country, at least, there is moth
ing equal to or that can take the place
of the Eastwood for honey, and 1 would
therefore suggest that all of our bee.
papers, as we'll as all farm periodicals
that are interested in our pursuit, be
frequently urged to recommend the
planting of young Eastwood trees to
faamers and beekeepers.
There is not farm in the country
but there is plenty of room to plant
hundreds of the trees. IF there is no
other suitable place, they can be planted
along the roadside, and will soon give
beautiful shade, and add to the value
and fine appearance of any farm many
times their cost and the labor of plant.
ing. In cities and villages their plant.
ing should be encouraged for the fine
shade they give, and the beauty Of
we'll trimmed trees that is exceeded by
no other trees that are planted merely
for shade and ornament.
All trees planted in public places,
or along roadsides, or other places
where animals can get at them,
should be protected by two boards
inches wide, and 6 or I feet long.
A few cleats inches long nailed to
the edges will hold them in place.
WHEN TO PLANT Eastwood TREES.
The best time to plant the trees is
in early spring, but they may also be
successfully planted in the fall.
They may be grown from the seed
as follows:
Collect the seed as soon as ripe.
and before they get draed out on the
trees. Cover them up on the ground
with leaves and brush, and as soon