full bloom. In corn-districts, especially, this change is indispensable. After the middle of August, wide tracts of the richest arable lands, unless in the immediate vicinity of heath, present to the bees but a barren desert; the wild flowers are almost all gone, and in those that still remain, the secretion of honey proceeds very slowly and scantily. And what is of still more importance, the white or Dutch clover, which, in a highly-cultivated country, forms the great dependence of the apiary, has disappeared; and hardly any thing remains but the small patches of mignonette in the gardens, and the coarse rag-weed or mug-wort in the fields.
From this period, accordingly, the hives, generally speaking, become every day lighter; and the Bee-master, especially after deprivation, must exert his skill in checking the evil, otherwise his stocks will be unfit to stand the winter. The only remedy,—at least the best,—is to transport his hives to a district where the bees will find those supplies that are wanting at home.
The practice of removing bees towards the close of autumn to fresh pastures prevailed in ancient times, as we learn from Columella and others,—and is continued at the present day, with great advantage to the owners. In China, Egypt, the Grecian Islands, and over almost the whole European continent, we find the transporting system highly approved of. In England we know not that its advantages are appreciated as they deserve to be; but in Scotland,
