Gleanings in bee culture . iousto the plants and prevents the roots them-selves from properly doing their accustomedwork. There are many who put up a per-manent trellis and grow their sweet peas inthe same location for a dozen or more often complain of the want of vigorthe vines exhibit, and of the scarcity of theblossoms. Let them sow the seed in a newplace and note the results. There is something wanting in the spirit-ual makeup of the person who does notexperience pleasure in beholding the bravedisplay made by these beautiful exhibit every hue from white to pur-ple,
Gleanings in bee culture . iousto the plants and prevents the roots them-selves from properly doing their accustomedwork. There are many who put up a per-manent trellis and grow their sweet peas inthe same location for a dozen or more often complain of the want of vigorthe vines exhibit, and of the scarcity of theblossoms. Let them sow the seed in a newplace and note the results. There is something wanting in the spirit-ual makeup of the person who does notexperience pleasure in beholding the bravedisplay made by these beautiful exhibit every hue from white to pur-ple, while the individual flowers are oftenvariegated. The fragrance is strong andsweet, suggestive of honey. In form theyare shaped like a butterfly. They containnectar, and are produced in great profu-sion. Surely we should expect to find themswarming with bees. But you may examine them day afterday, and not find a single insect on the flow-ers. During the past summer there was arow of sweet peas within fifty feet of my Fig. 1.—A flower of the pea family (Papilion-aceae), after Gray, a, the standard, a large broad,high-colored petal to attract attention; b, b, thewings on which the bee stands; c, c, the keel, com-posed of two petals, containing the stamens and pis-til. - Pig. 2.—A section lengthwise through the keel,showing the stamens and pistil in place, all thepetals, except one, removed; ca, the calyx; an, theten anthers; St, the stigma. Nine of the stamensform a tube (t), at the bottom of which lies thenectar; the tenth stamen (f) is free to permit thebee to insert its tongue inside the tube. When a bee,resting its head against the standard, pushes downthe keel, the anthers and stigma protrude throughits apex and touch the under side of the bees body. AUGUST 1, 1913 apiary, in a location where the bees wereconstantly flying over them. I repeatedlyexamined the flowers; but during manyweeks not a single bee did I observe onthem. Why was this? Put a honeybee ona
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbees, bookyear1874
