Proceedings, 1921. 127 



others more common in the Interior ; the different species are so like each 

 other that amateurs overlook their dift'erences and regard them merely as 

 goldenrods. It has been found, however, that bees prefer certain species, 

 find will fly over several plants of one species to visit another one. I shall 

 be glad at any time to receive specimens of the goldenrods most favoured 

 by honey-bees, so that we can ascertain the species of most value to British 

 Columbia apiarists. 



The honey from this source is described as of a golden-yellow, with 

 heavy body, not of the finest flavour, and the fall hone)' when freshly 

 gathered is said to have such a pronounced odour that it can be detected a 

 little distance from the hive. 



^■Istcrs (many species), like the goldenrods, are well distributed over 

 the Province, and it is possible that much of the value credited to goldenrod 

 belongs to the asters, because the former are most conspicuous. The later 

 flowering species are considered of most value. 



Blooming, as they do, in the fall until frost cuts them down, asters 

 are valuable in providing winter stores ; though aster-honey is not considered 

 good for this purpose it is in most localities mixed with dark fall honey, so 

 that it is rarely stored separately. The honey is pale amber, with a mild 

 flavour, is rather thin, and by itself does not thicken up readily. 



Horse-mint (Monarda fistulosa) is a plant which, like red-clover, 

 varies in value according to the locality in which it grows. Of the ten 

 species of Monarda, three are recommended to United States apiarists, the 

 best of which is our native species common in some parts of the Okanagan 

 \'alley, but somewhat limited in its distribution. The corolla-tubes are 

 sometimes very deep and one would scarcely think honey-bees could reach 

 the nectar ; nevertheless, in hot dry regions it is considered of major impor- 

 tance and it is widely reported as a source of honey. 



Milkweed ( Asclepias) is to the botanist a plant of unusual interest 

 on account of the peculiar adaptation it has for insect pollination. The 

 stamens are so placed and constructed that when an insect visits the flower 

 the pollinia, or masses of pollen, adhere to its body and sometimes its feet, 

 and lurid word pictures have been printed of bees becoming so entangled as 

 to be unable to find their way home again, but these are probably exaggerated. 



In " Gleanings in Bee-culture " for July, 1912, an apiarist reports a 

 yield of 1,320 lb. of honey from eleven colonies in eleven days from milk- 

 weed. Any plant that will yield from 10 to 11 lb. of honey per colony per 

 day deserves encouragement. The honey is light in colour and of good 

 quality. 



Po(/lHme (Apocynum) is often erroneously called milkweed because, 

 like many other plants, it exudes a milky juice when injured. This plant 

 is fdund at the Coast and in the Interior, where it more abundant. ( It 

 was formerly of great value to the Indians for the production of fibre for 

 lines.) It is very common in the Kootenay, Okanagan, and Thompson 

 \'alleys, but appears in many unexpected places in the Coast area and on 

 the islands along the Coast, including \'ancouver Island. Although not 

 usually listed amongst honey-yielding plants, I was glad to learn from Mr. 



