CATALOGUE OF BEE-FLOWERS, &C.
From the account of the mode of supplying Bees with artificial
food, to the enumeration of such trees, plants, and flowers as are most
frequented by Bees, for the purpose of culling from them the various
substances, which their necessities, their nature, or their instinct
(which is a part of their nature) urge them to seek for, the transition
is so easy and natural--is so akin to the subject of Bee-feeding, as to
be rather a continuation thereof than a transition to a fresh one; I
therefore proceed to give a catalogue of those trees and plants which
afford pabulum for Bees. It is furnished principally from my own ocular
observation, and is partly collected from the observation of others,
whose curiosity has led them to pay attention to the subject, and to make
remarks upon it.
* * * * *
Alder-tree Celery
Almond-tree Cherry-tree
Althea frutex Chesnut-tree
Alyssum Chickweed
Amaranthus Clover
Apple-tree Cole or coleseed
Apricot-tree Coltsfoot
Arbutus (alpine) Coriander
Ash-tree Crocus
Asparagus Crowfoot
Aspin Crown-imperial
Cucumber
Balm Currants
Bean Cypress-tree
Beech-tree
Betony Daffodil
Blackberry Dandelion
Black-currant-tree Dogberry-tree
Borage
Box-tree Elder-tree
Bramble Elm-tree
Broom Endive
Bugloss (viper's)
Buckwheat Fennel
Burnet Furze
Cabbage Goldenrod
Cauliflower Gooseberry-tree
Gourd
* * * * *
Hawthorn Mallow (marsh)
Hazel-tree Marigold (French)
Heath Marigold (single)
Holly Maple-tree
Holly-hock (trumpet) Marjoram (sweet)
Honey-suckle Melilot
Honey-wort (cerinthe) Melon-tree
Hyacinth Mezereon
Hysop Mignionette
Mustard
Ivy
Nasturtium
Jonquil Nectarine-tree
Nettle (white)
Kidney-bean
Oak-tree
Laurel Onion
Laurustinus Orange-tree
Lavender Ozier
Leek
Lemon-tree Parsley
Lily (water) Parsnip
Lily (white) Pea
Lime-tree Peach-tree
Liquidamber Pear-tree
Liriodendrum, or Peppermint
Tulip-tree Plane-tree
Lucerne Plum-tree
Poplar-tree
Poppy
Primrose
Privet
* * * * *
Radish Tacamahac
Ragweed Tansy (wild)
Rasberry Tare
Rosemary (wild) Teasel
Roses (single) Thistle (common)
Rudbechiæ Thistle (sow)
Thyme (lemon)
Saffron Thyme (wild)
Sage Trefoil
Saintfoin Turnip
St. John's wort
Savory (winter) Vetch
Snowdrop
Snowberry-tree Violet (single)
Stock (single)
Strawberry Wallflower (single)
Sunflower Willow-herb
Sycamore-tree Willow-tree
Woad
Yellow weasel-snout
* * * * *
Of these some are valuable for the supply of pabulum they afford Bees
early in spring; as _the white alyssum, broom, crocus, furze, hazel,
laurustinus, mezereon, ozier, plane-tree, poplar-tree, snowdrop,
sycamore-tree, the willow-tree, &c._ Others again are valuable on
account of the lateness of the season that Bees derive assistance from
them; as _the golden-rod, heath, ivy, laurustinus, mignionette, ragweed,
&c._ Some abound with honey; as _borage, buckwheat, burnet, coleseed,
currant and gooseberry-trees, heath, leek, mignionette, mustard, onion,
thyme, the blossoms of apple, apricot, cherry, nectarine, pear, and
plum-trees, and the leaves of those trees remarkable for what is called
honey-dew, as the aspin, blackberry, laurel, laurustinus, lime, maple,
oak, plane, poplar, and sycamore-tree._ Among those that are rich in
pollen, may be classed--_the arbutus, ash, blackberry, box, chesnut,
cypress, elder, laurel, marsh-mallow, turnip, &c._
The cultivation of some of the most valuable of these is too-limited
to be particularly advantageous to Bees, as _alyssum, borage, burnet,
golden-rod, laurustinus, mezereon, mignionette, &c._ The most extensive
and lasting Bee-pasturage in this country is _clover, heath_, and
in my own immediate neighbourhood _mustard_. In short, every one of
the flowers, &c. mentioned in the foregoing catalogue, and others
innumerable, are in their turns resorted to by Bees, and of course are
more or less advantageous to them.