Fig. 47.—Summer or bird rape (Brassica napus).
Among plants of economic value in other directions fruit trees and shrubs are to be counted as of much importance to bees. The apple and the cherry yield well, the others less, though the gooseberry, were it more plentiful, would be of considerable value. Strawberry blossoms are, in general, visited sparingly and yield only a small amount, but the raspberry, coming later, when the colonies are stronger, is a most important source, greatly liked by the bees, and furnishing as fine a quality of honey as is known. Ten acres in raspberries will furnish pasturage for three weeks to 75 or 100 colonies of bees. Mustard for seed, and rape for pasture and seed, may be made to furnish much to the bees in early spring. Buckwheat honey is dark and strong, but is relished by some, and when well ripened is good winter food for bees, so that whenever this plant can be made to blossom at a time when the bees find nothing better and a crop of grain can also be harvested from it, a plentiful supply should by all means be sown: the clovers, white, alsike, crimson, and mammoth or medium red may be sown for pasturage, hay, forage, for purposes of green manuring, or for seed, and honey of fine quality obtained if a sufficient number of blossoms are allowed to appear.
Fig. 48.—Sacaline or giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense).
Fig. 49.—Russian or hairy vetch (Vicia villosa).
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a most important honey producer as well as perennial forage crop, can be grown over a much greater area of the United States than has heretofore been generally supposed. Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa) and serradella (Ornithopus sativus), both most excellent honey plants, have not received the attention they merit either North or South. Japan clover (Lespedeza striata) is grown profitably in the South, and more even might be expected from the introduction of sulla clover (Hedysarum coronarium) there, the latter a great honey producer. Chicory, even on poor soil, is a good honey and pollen plant. Northern bee keepers should try the dwarf (quick-growing) varieties of cowpeas (Vigna sinensis) extensively grown in the South for forage and green manuring. Vetches are of recognized value for the same purposes, especially the Russian hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). Sacaline (Polygonum sachalinense) and flat peas (Lathyrus sylvestris) are visited by bees, and in certain situations may be found of value otherwise. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) yields well in July and August. Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) when grown for seed are assiduously visited by bees for honey during June. July, and August. Gorse or furze (Ulex europæus) for forage may prove valuable in some localities here, as it is highly esteemed in some parts of Europe. Its odorous yellow blossoms, much frequented by bees, appear in May. Filbert bushes (Corylus avellana) will grow in many portions of our country, yielding, besides nuts, an abundance of early pollen, even in February or March. The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) succeeds in the Southwest, yielding a crop of economic value, besides a harvest in late summer for bees. It is also a fine ornamental tree. There are no finer shade or ornamental trees for the lawn or roadside than lindens (basswoods) and horse-chestnuts. To these chestnut, locust, sourwood, and tulip trees may be added. The timber of all is useful; and since they are great honey yielders their propagation near the apiary is very desirable.
Bees range ordinarily within 2 or 3 miles in all directions from their homes, but sometimes go farther. Pasturage to be especially valuable, however, should be within 2 miles, and less than a mile distant to the main source is quite preferable. The advantage is probably not so much in the saving of time in going back and forth, for bees fly with great rapidity, but because when sudden storms arise, especially those accompanied by high winds, the heavily laden bees are more likely to reach home safely and the hive will not be decimated of its gathering force.