From him they learned that the bees would range a league and
more from the hive, if they could not gather honey nearer home. That
he gathered two harvests a year, spring and autumn each yielding one,
while the cold winter and the parched and blossomless summer equally
suspended the profitable labor of his winged workmen. He pointed out
the plants whose blossoms were preferred by the bees, and professed to
be able to distinguish the honey gathered in each month, varying as it
did in qualities according to the succession of flowers which bloomed
through the seasons, and he gave a preference to the product of the
rosemary over all other plants.
Lady Mabel was delighted with the method and the scale of this branch
of rural industry. "We have Moors enough in Scotland. Indeed, I wish
so much of them had not fallen to papa's lot. But when I go home, I
will endeavor to turn these wastes to better account, and rival our
friend here, by establishing a bee farm on a grand scale."
"You must not forget to carry the rosemary and other choice plants
with you," said Mrs. Shortridge, "and some beams of the Portuguese
sun, to secure two seasons of flowers in the year.
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