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. [Illustration: Fig. 48.--Sacaline or giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense).] [Illustration: 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