AGRICULTURE
44
Chief Producing Regions.—The principal honey producing regions
are the St. Lawrence valley from lake St. Francis and he Lake of the
Two Mountains to the city of Quebec, the south shore of the same river
almost as far as Riviere du Loup, and the Eastern Townships. Apiaries,
however, showing as high a yield per colony as in the best districts, are
scattered along the north shore of the Ottawa river, in the Labelle region,
in the Gatineau valley, in Pontiac county, and in the farming country
around lake St. John. Undoubtedly there is a wide and most profitable
Geld for the extension of bee-keeping in these regions and throughout
the province.
Plant Sources of Honey.—The principal source of honey in the good
farming country is white clover and alsike. The quality of clover honey
s unsurpassed. In many places in the St. Lawrence valley below Quebec,
An apiary at Maacouche, Quebec
and in the lake St. John district, there is practically no other source of
honey, and the product from these regions is of the highest quality. In
the farming country around lake St. John, bees winter well, although they
are confined to their hives in cellars for over six months.
Buckwheat, basswood, and sweet clover, are additional sources of
honey in parts of the country between Three Rivers and the international
boundary, and in the lower Ottawa valley. Fireweed is a source of abun-
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