TWO WORTHY BEE PLANTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1551, 13 June 1882, Page 4

TWO WORTHY BEE PLANTS.

Thjjhe are too plants which are particularly prominent for nectar-producing qualities — neither perhaps equal to thyme, but iv its absence the next best substitutes. These plants are the common .mignonette (Reseda odorata) and the Sweet Melilot (Melilolus suaveolens). Mignonette in this climate is perennial, as it is in Northern Africa, but it wants plenty of water or a deep moist soil to grow> in' during bummer. Under these conditions it will keep on blossoming from January 1 till December 31, and commence its round the very next day. Tht flowers, though individually exceedingly minute, yet through the immense numbei contained in each conical head are very prolific of nectar, and the bees become so enamoured of a bed oi mignonette that they forsake all other flowers for its sake. The honey produced from a hive in the \icinitv of a bed of mignonette is of rare quality, and its high reputation has been sustained through a long and large experience. That this character is well de&eived let us call in the editor of the Utah I'ontologht, who deposes : — "Thattheie i.s no plant for bees within the range of out knowledge as valuable for bee-forage ab mignonette. And why ? It will keep in bloom year after year if not disturbed by frost, and it gives a longer period of usefulness than any other plant. It gi\es> more blossoms in a given space, and therefore gives more forage than any plants we have ever seen. Honey made trom this plant has the most delicious fragrance ot any we have ever tasted, and when it has been tested in market is far ahead of Califorman or any other biands of honey in worth, and brings a much higher price. We think that one acre, .of mignonette will make enough of forage for one or two hundred colonies of bees, oven when there is nothing else to work upon. We place mignonette in the lead of all other plants we know as a crop to cultivate as beeforage." There is plenty of similar evidence to be had if needed, but our own knowledge is sufficient to enable us to record an instant verdict in favour of mignonette as the premier honey-pro-ducing plant. No one need fear for the bees if he has a good bed of mignonette in the neighbourhood, though, of course, it is not a good thing to lcly continually upon the one plant. It is not in nature to confine itself to one line in anything, and theiefore, w hilst giving the bees as large a quantity of mignonette as possible, an endeavour should be made to grow some other plants lor them. The bed on which it is proposed to grow mignonette should, where possible, be on a slope facing the west, a\ here the frost will not be so severe upon it as where it faces the east. It should be worked very fine, and should be made as rich with manure and dug in as deeply as possible. To get the veiy best results the plant ought to be about a foot asunder, aud until they cover the ground, should be kept fiee from weeds. About three pounds of seeds scatteied over an acre will make thousands of plants too many, but will save transplanting, and the surplus can be hoed out by crosshoeing until they are a foot apart. Such a bed as this would fill a hundred large hives with honey over and again, and the sweetness of the air in the neighbourhood would entice many to take a walk in its neighbourhood. Of the Melilot there are a great many species and varieties, all, or nearly all, of whom abound in honey and are the favoi'ite resort of bees. There is a white variety becoming common here, in the watertables of district roads and in moist places. It is a very deep- rooting plant, and possesses a peculiarly fragrant odour, like that of new-mown hay. The flowers, and seeds of Melilotus offioinalis are used for flavoring the celebrated Gruyere cheese, being bruised and mixed with the curd .before pressiug. Melilotus oceruleus, called Zieger Krant, or cuid herb, gives the odour and flavor to the peculiar cheese called Schabzieger or Chap^zieger, the flowers bruised being used in this case, and mixed in with the curd. As fodder for cattle it is not very nutritive, but a little mixed with old or tasteless fodder gives it the odour and flavor that 1 has been lost. The white Melilot (M. alba) is the best of all i| the tribe as a honey plant, and we believe specimens may be seen growing in the road just to the west of, the South Australian Institute. Most of the species are annuals, ,but some two or three «re biennials, 'and if continually cut to prevent seeding they last for many years.— Exchange.

' Messrs Donald Reid and Co., of Dunedin, announced, in tlie advertismg Columns of the' Otatjo Daily Times on the 4th instaut, a sale of farming stock, and the colts, fillies', hoggets, ewes, and dairy idows were enumerated in the usual catecpry ; and then followed an t amusing jumbltf in this fashion : ' l " A numbfer of fat and store pigs ; A bobby wbo walked on his beat ! » TiWas tortured with Corns On hiiifeet ; ' i He ¥sed,,Alcock's Piaster ,to make him/ go ' rr ' i H«i > i'n i oW^ll— lofcbmotipn'satniat ' I ijhi <v, 'mi Toffdther with ", o ' t The agricultural implcraentt., 1 dairy ; , - hmthWi &*tel libdsehold' furniture, fee, ' ■ : JwSaP? ! > ' - <ia - "-'>*'^ ; r saia £ ,- aifd^hp^'the h r ~j>ifyl»V explained, may be lefsfa:imagin-