GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1681, 9 February 1884, Page 6

GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.

HONEY PLANTS.

(Continued.) Before leaving the question of honey trees, I may mention the fact that most fruit blossoms yield honey, though it is not equal in quautity and quality to that from basswood and such plants as clover ; yet, coming in when the bees have only the flowers of the willows to work upon — indeed, these will be nearly worked out — it is a crop of great moment to the apiarist. The honey is excellent for starting brood-rear-ing, but owing to its # strong, rank taste it is of little or no value for table use. Here it seems fitting to introduce the question — Do bees injure fruit trees and fruit? In the first place, it is positively asserted by those who have made numeroan and careful observations that the bee does an immense service to the early fruits, such as cherries, peaches, and apricots. It may be observed that the stamens of these flowers stand out from the pistil, and as a consequence it is only in favourable circumstances that the ovule will be fertilised. When the beos can work they convey the pollen to its destined place, fertilisation is secured, and a good crop of these fruits results. If at the time of flowering the weather is bad, and the bees are unable to work, then there-is scarcely any fruit that season. This being an experience extending over a number of years, it may be taken for granted that* bees do good to fruit blossoms. Some people will "have it that bees injure the fruit, especially the finer sorts, such as grapes. From the Counhry Journal I take the following :— " It has long been believed, and is now universally accepted as a fact 3 that the bee destroys grapes and other fruits. . . Being unable to convince others of the harmleesaess of tho iusoct iv any other way, I de-

vised for that purpose the following experi- ' merit, which anyone may try for himself. I placed at the mouth of the hives bunches of ■ grapes, and for days, although the bees were constantly crawling over them, not a berry was injured. I then punctured half the berries on each bunch, and instantly the bees went to work on all so punctured, in a short i time sucking them dry. The remainder of the berries were untouched, and remained so until punctured by me, when they in turn were attacked as promptly as the former. This experiment demonstrates that it is necessary for the pci»pes to have been previously injured so a3 to ailmv exudation of juice, otherwise the beo will not molest it." When speaking of ornamental honey-produc-ing trooH, I omitted to mention the lirioden- 1' drou lulipifera, or tulip tree. It is a tree of large size, sometimes as high aa 130 feet. It is very ornamental. The wood is much used in cabinet work and for panels of carriages, and any inside work where toughness or a hard surface is not required. When the wood is thoroughly seasoned it remains fixed, and does not warp or twist like many of the hard and tough kinds of wood. <t produces ita large tuiip-like flowers in spring, and yields a rich dark kind of honey. It is one of the most) ornamental trees wo possess. Its roots are' very tender. As a consequence the moving? from the nursery must be done with great care,? and it is not suitable for roadside or street) planting. There are many agricultural plants which yield honey, nnd to these I now direct' attention. ALSIKE CLOVER. This is a cross between the white and red clovers, and furnishes as much honey as red clover. As a honey plant it is superior to the red clover. The petals are much shorter ; the! bees thcreforo do not find the difficulty in reaching the honey that they do in the red varieties. It ranks first as, a honey plant for artificial psttuie. Not only does it pro luce honey in large quantities, but the quality ca-; not bp excelled by anything in the world it grows well in comparatively cold, mo-,. e;imates, and in clayey soils ; so that it w v cry suitable for South Otago and Southland. The other day I gathered a bunch of the flowers. As I went along with them in my hand I was several times stopped, that they might be examined. Anything finer I never saw. The seed .had been thrown over some poor pasture, and on ground that had not received the best of treatment. The cultivation is similar to that of red clover — about four pounds of seed fco the acre. In a general way it blossoms the second year. " While it can produce honey with almost auy cultivation, if we wish to get large yields of hay or honey the ground should be well prepared. On good ground it will attain the height of three feet, aud have a profusion of large flower heads." As a heavy growth is . likely to fall in bad weather, a sprinkling of timothy may be sown with it to advantage. In Otago as a rule, if raised for the hayand honey without reference to need, it should give at least two good crops every season. To get this the crop must be cut when in full bloom. The hay is of firet-rato quality, and tho pasturage, after the clover is cut, is excellent for all kinds of stock. If seed is desired, it should be taken from the first crop of blossoms, and should be allowed to stand about two weeks longer than when the crop is cut for hay. ' The next plant in importance, from an agricultural and honey-pvoducing standpoint, is that of the common WHITE CLOVER (TKEFOLIUM REPENS), This plant 1 presume everybody knows. In Otago it is next to impossible to take a step along any road without seeing it. The difference between that which is cultivated and that which is left to, take its chance is very marked. It is said by Mr Root that we can better Bpare any of the other honey plants than this. The red clover (T. pratense) yields honey largely some seasons, but not as generally as does the white, nor do the bees work on it so long. "While most persons tire in time of almost any one kind of honoy, that from clover seoms to ' wear ' like bread, butter, and potatoes. It is the great staple in the markets." The cultivation of the white clover ij similar to alsiko. Mr Hopkins draws special attention to BUCKWHEAT (POLYGONUM I'ARGOPYRUM), a plant belonging to an order that is too well known in Otago, which is represented by the common dock and sorrel. The name buckwheat seems to be derived from the German " buch-weizen," a name given to it because it greatly resembles in shape the beech tree seeds, while the contents, being of a farinaceous character, give them a resemblance to wheat. There are three' kinds, but that named is the most valuable to cultivate. It is said to have been brought from Central Asia. It grows wild in China and Siberia. Its habit is erect, and it reaches three feet in height. It has a stroug, firm, branching stem, »f a purplish colour, bearing leaves something like the ivy. Its white flowers, sometimes tin&red with rod, hang in bunches, and give the plant an ornamental appearance. Concerning this plant Mr Hopkins says : — " Buckwheat is valuable not only for honey, but when green as fodder for cattle, and when ripe the wheat iR splendid for pigs and poultry, while buckwheat-cakes are specially prized by our 'American cousins.' It seems strange that a plant so prolific and valuable should be neglected by New Zealand farmers. I planted three-quarters of a pound of the ' Silver-hull ' variety, and it yielded over one hundred pounds of wheat — a most astonishing result, as the ground in which it was planted was very poor. By sowing buckwheat early two crops from the same" ground can be obtained in one seasorl." In England it is grown especially as food for game. Pheasants are especially fond of it. Mr Root says it will pay bee-keepers to raise this plant. If land is not their own, they can furnish seed to the farmers, or pay them a dollar or two for the honey it yields. He gave one dollar per acre for all that was sown within a mile and a-half of his apiary. The honey is dark, and the flavour is not generally liked, but it is perfectly wholesome, and provides food for the bees in winter. It will grow and bloom on almost any soil, but if you want it to pay for either honey or grain it should have good rich soil. It can be sown broadcast, about three pecks to the acre. The dark hybrids gather the larger part of the honey from this source. The Italians hardly ever touch it. No one should attempt to grow it on heavy clay and undrained soils. Its roots ramify the surface soil. It is of a "delicate constitution, very susceptible to frost. One night below freezing point will seal its doom. It cannot therefore be generally cultivated in Otago. Its gtowth is very rapid. If sown in the beginning of December, it might be secured in March. In some places, therefore, it is likely to Bucceed, and if it does succeed it will be sure to pay. Another agricultural plant that yields large crops of honey is

KAPK. A As the seed is utilised for purposes other than simple increase, it should play a prominent part on the honey farm. Like buckwheat, it commences to bloom when quite small, aud continues* till it has gained its full height. When the ground is properly prepared, and with ordinary climatic influences, it should bloom in twenty days from sowing. It should

be snwn broadcast, and about three pounds to the aero, .MUSTARD (SINAHS AWfINSIS) attiacts the bees very much in Otago. It can ba raised for Beed, which always conf mands a good price. The honey is said to be light, edual to any in flavour, and to command ' the highest price in the' market. The seod should be sown early, in drills or* broadcast. If in drills, from six to ten pounds per aore ; if broadcast, from fifteen to twenty pounds. There is no difficulty in growing it in Otago. It may be cut when green, and then left to seed. There are many special plants that one could . name, but not being of great agricultural value nor likely to permanently improve ,the value of the farm, Ido not mention them.' However, ' in closiug my notice of honey, : producing plants, wish to oall.attention to' the fact that many 'people regard iItGNONETTB ' as a superior honey-producing' plant.' Here I would pay to them that there are many plants better than it. The honey 'from it is only of fair quality. How many times have I heard the " Scotchman's friend," . ' THE THISTLE, , spoken of in anything but . complimentary terms. I know the young plants are excellent food for stock, and sheep relish them. It is cheering to know-that it is a good honey plant. Mr Root says -"'As it blossoms fully four months in the year, and produces a beautiful white honey, it would seem it might well deserve a place among the plants on a honey fanu." Of course Ido not advise their cultivation ; they grow in abundance as it is, but we might as well utlise them while we are afflicted with their presence. To counteract the evil farmers might keep bees, and in this manner obtain some good, and be partially " paid for the labour which they give. William Jennkb.