Beekeeping in the Clover Region. 18 
There are still other plants which grow in the same type of loca- 
tions in which the clovers thrive, and among these may be mentioned 
fruit bloom, dandelion, the maples,‘ tulip-tree,’® and black locust 1° 
which bloom early, and basswood, sweet clover,!* and heartsease * 
which bloom later. 
The wild red-raspberry, various members of the heath family, 
and willowherb thrive on acid soils of the North. The willowherb is 
common in northern Canada extending southward in burned-over 
areas on sandy and acid soils into Maine, New York, Michigan, and 
States westward, and appearing again in the United States on the 
west coast. Milkweed honey is produced in certain parts of 
Michigan. The species of Spanish needle valuable for nectar thrives 
in swampy locations, being most important in northwestern Indiana 
and in adjacent territory in Illinois, and it is found in other places 
outside the typical clover region. While buckwheat is grown in 
many parts of the clover region, it is most abundant and most bene- 
ficial to the beekeeper in the plateau region of New York and Penn- 
sylvania, where the clovers are not at their best. 
Basswood was formerly an important source of honey in the clover 
region, but it has been so largely removed that it is now less im- 
portant, although in some seasons good yields are still obtained from 
this source. In fruit-growing regions nectar from fruit trees is an 
important source of early honey, but usually is not sufficient in 
amount to provide surplus honey. Tulip-tree is more southern in 
its main distribution, but in some parts of the clover region may 
furnish some early honey, provided the bees are in condition to get 
it. Sweet clover is found almost throughout the clover region in 
limited quantities. It is increasing in importance, but is more valu- 
able as a honey-plant outside the typical clover territory. Heartsease 
thrives in the moist soils of river bottoms in the clover region, but 
is more important as a honey-source outside this region. 
Since adequate preparation for the clover honey-flow brings the 
colonies to their full strength as soon as is practicable in the spring, 
no special modifications are called for in taking advantage of earlier 
sources. Within this region the later honey-flows usually follow 
almost immediately after the clover, and as a rule there is no late 
summer honey-flow. The later honey-flows are usually so irregular 
in this region that they do not constitute part of the beekeeper’s 
regular program, and if he gets honey from them he considers it as 
something additional for which he has not had to plan. As one goes 
farther north in the clover region the probability of a continuous 
honey-flow during the summer becomes greater. 
18 Leontodon spp. 15 Liriodendron tulipifera. 1 Tilia americana. 
14 Acer spp. 16 Robinia pseudacacia. 18 Melilotus alba, 
# Smartweed, knotweed (Persicaria spp.; Polygonum spp.) 
112365°—22-—_3 
