Proceedings. 1921. 125 



nately, whereas many of the best bee-flowers are not blue. For example, 

 we find amongst the best native bee-plants of this Province, Salix (willows ), 

 Solidago (goldenrod), Cleome (Rocky Mountain bee-flower). Taraxacum 

 (dandelion), Helianthus (Sunflowers), and Monarda (horsemint), none 

 of which have blue flowers. 



Regarding the structure of flowers best suited for bees, one has to 

 take into account the dift"erent species of bees in each region, as we find 

 a great variation in the length of their tongues according to species and 

 sex, varying from 6 or 7 mm. in the case of honey-bees to about 20 mm. in 

 some species of bumble-bees. Flowers, therefore, with the nectar at a 

 greater depth than 6 or 7 mm. are of little value to the apiarist, and very 

 shallow flowers may be classed in the same category, because flies and other 

 insects with very short tongues may reach the nectar and thus limit the 

 supply available for bees. 



It has been calculated that about 37,030 Joads of nectar are required 

 for the production of i lb. of honey ; it is therefore necessary for the bee to 

 get as much as possible from each flower, and the flowers most favoured 

 by honey-bees are those with a short narrow tube which will prevent smaller 

 insects from reaching the nectar. 



We do occasionally find honey-bees visiting flowers with long spurs 

 and obtaining nectar through holes made in the spurs by bumble-bees. This 

 dishonest method of obtaining the nectar seems very prevalent not only on 

 this continent, but also in Europe. In the north of Scotland I have 

 examined hundreds of wild dog-violets and every one had its spur per- 

 forated ; in other years on the same area I have scarcely found a damaged 

 spur. In British Columbia one frequently finds the Columbine spurs 

 similarly pierced, and it has been reported that about 303 dift'erent species 

 of flowers are thus robbed. 



Though I have never seen a bumble-bee in the act of burglary, I learn 

 from other observers that the punctures are made by laciniae, or lance-shaped 

 ends of the maxillae. I am not aware of any authentic case of a honey-bee 

 thus robbing the flower of its nectar where the flower has not previously 

 been perforated by bumble-bees. 



All Bee-flowers do not yield Nectar. 



There are other native plants, however, which yield no nectar, yet are 

 valuable to bees as sources of pollen to feed the young larvae. Apiarists 

 generally distinguish between the pollen-yielding and the nectar-yielding 

 flowers, but many novices overlook the importance of this distinction, and 

 one cannot always rely on what novices write in prose or poetry. For 

 example, the wild roses, of which we have so many in British Columbia, 

 are nectarless, but useful in providing an abundance of pollen which bees 

 make free use of. A poet, observing the frequent visits of honey-bees to 

 roses, bursts into song in the following words : — 



He harries the ports of the hollyhocks 



i\nd levies on poor sweetbrier; 

 And drinks the whitest wine of phlox, 

 And the rose is his desire. 



