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In this part of Illinois 1t grows in rich soil by the wayside, or in de- 
serted stone quarries with equal luxuriance. As the plant will grow 
without any cultivation in by-ways and waste places, wherever the seed 
can obtain a foothold, and is a perennial, it is rightly reckoned among 
the number of excellent and cheap bee-forage plants. Sweet Clover will 
endure drought well. During the long drought of last season bees in this. 
neighborhood would have been entirely without resources for many 
weeks together had it not been for Sweet Clover. The quality of the 
honey is excellent, and under ordinary conditions the yield is altogether 
satisfactory. Much apprehension has been: felt among farmers lest it 
become a noxious weed. Observing how readily the seed is carried 
in the mud on wagon wheels and horses’ feet in the spring, when the 
roads are bad and the entire space in the highways is used for travel, 
belief has obtained that the fields would soon be invaded. Careful 
and continuous observation of the facts for five years past has convinced 
me that fears of trouble from this source are groundless. In but one 
instance have I seen Sweet Clover invade a plowed field, and that was 
for a distance of 3 rods on both sides of an old road leading into the 
field and the seed had been carried in on wagon wheels. This plant 
being a biennial is easily exterminated when desirable. I would recom- 
mend bee-keepers to provide abundance of this forage by scattering the 
seed in waste places and by the roadside. Sweet Clover is much more 
sightly and useful, and less objectionable, in every way, than the weeds 
which ordinarily cover the roadsides. 
Pleurisy-Root (Asclepias tuberosa) is a honey-bearing plant indigenous. 
to nearly all parts of the United States, but its growth has not been 
encouraged for the reason that its value to the honey-producer has not 
been generally known. The plantis a perennial; the top dies and rots, 
anew growth springing up each year. It is commonly regarded asa 
harmless prairie weed. ‘The deep red blossoms hang in clusters. The 
plant is very hardy and of a rugged growth, growing luxuriantly in all 
kinds of soil. The honey is of the finest quality both as to color and 
flavor. Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, Mich., speaking of Pleurisy, 
says: “If there is any plant, to the growing of which good land may be 
exclusively devoted for the sole purpose of honey production, I think it 
is this; | would rather have one acre of it than three of Sweet Clover. 
It blooms through July and the first half of August, and bees never 
desert Pleurisy for bass-wood or anything else. The blossoms always 
look. bright and fresh, and yield honey continuously in wet and dry 
weather. Bees work on it in the rain,and during the excessive drought 
of the past season it did not cease to secrete nectar in abundance.” I 
have had some observation and experience with the plant, and, having 
secured seed, I expect to test it in different kinds of soil next season. 
For two years past I have cultivated a plot of Motherwort (Leonurus 
cardiaca), and I prize it highly as a honey plant. Bees work on it con- 
tinually all day, and every day, unless it is raining quite hard. The 
