"I have always found the advantage of planting in the vicinity of
my hives a large quantity of the common kinds of crocus, single blue
hepatica, helleborus niger, and tussilago petasites, all of which
flower early, and are rich in honey and farina. Salvia memorosa (of
Sir James Smith), which flowers very early in June, and lasts all the
summer, is in an extraordinary manner sought after by the bees, and,
when room is not an object, twenty or thirty square yards of it may
be grown with advantage. Origanum humile, and origanum rubescens (of
Haworth), and mignonette may also be grown. Cúscuta sinensis is a
great favourite with them; and the pretty little plant anacampseros
populifolium, when in flower, is literally covered by them. Garden
cultivation beyond this, exclusively for bees, I believe, answers very
little purpose."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]