6 Farmers’ Bulletin 1215. | 
region. The presence of other plants on which the beekeeper de- 
pends for surplus honey naturally modifies materially the methods 
of beekeeping practiced; but, since there are within this region no 
other important nectar-secreting species which bloom earlier than do 
the clovers, the beekeeper must plan his work so as to get the 
greatest possible amount of honey from this source. Where buck- 
wheat is a major source of honey the clovers are not at their best. 
Where tulip tree is a major source of honey the clovers are usually 
insignificant. The clover region does not extend westward into the 
territory where alfalfa becomes a major honey source. While there 
is considerable sweet clover within the clover region, this species is 
more important to the beekeeper outside the area where the other 
clovers are important. 
It should be emphasized that, since the clovers do not secrete nectar 
freely everywhere within the area indicated, there are minor areas 
within the clover region where other species are the main dependence 
of the beekeeper, and these areas are not to be considered as part of 
the clover region in a strict sense. Examples of this are to be found 
in the willowherb and wild red-raspberry regions of the North and, 
especially, the swamp regions, such as those in which Spanish needle 
is a major source. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLOVERS. 
WHITE CLOVER. 
White clover is a native of the Old World and is not thought to be 
native to North America. It is a perennial, low-growing, creeping 
plant, propagated by seed and also taking root on the creeping stems. 
The roots are shallow and do not arise from a crown. The stems 
are recumbent. The flowers are white, with a slight pink tint on the 
tips of the corolla at times. To the northward this pink tint in- 
creases in extent and intensity, and at high altitudes the flowers of 
this species are decidedly reddish. As the flowers of the head wither 
the petioles are no longer erect and the individual flowers turn red- 
dish-brown and bend backward around the stem. The leaflets are 
smaller and more rounded than those of alsike clover and have light 
markings, similar to those of red clover. 
The chief blooming period, and the only one which may be counted 
upon to furnish nectar, begins about five to six weeks after the aver- 
age date of the last killing frost in the spring (fig. 3), and lasts about 
three to five weeks. Some blossoms appear before the date indicated 
and it usually happens that nectar secretion does not begin until 
10 days after the first blossoms appear. Under favorable weather 
conditions the blooming period may be greatly prolonged, and some- 
times the period of nectar secretion is also lengthened, although 
