Beekeeping in the Tulip-Tree Region. 5 
Plateau in Maryland and Virginia. In the outer limits of its dis- 
tribution it is found as single trees or in small groups; and it is rarely 
the dominant forest tree except in the South and under favorable 
conditions. The tulip-tree beekeeping region may be considered as 
restricted to those places where it is a common tree, the area being 
roughly indicated in the closely shade area in figure 1. The tree is, 
of course, not equally abundant throughout this area. 
VARIATIONS WITHIN THE REGION. 
The variation in the number of trees of this species within the 
geographical range has already been mentioned. The trees vary also 
in size, being larger and more thrifty in those parts of the region 
where it is more abundant numerically. Beekeepers in regions where 
the tree is not common rarely list it among the honey-plants, and it 
is quite possible that in these places the individual flowers do not 
secrete nectar quite so profusely. No accurate information is avail- 
able as to any differences in the amount and character of the nectar 
due to differences in soil. So far as known, the nectar is always 
dark in color and the resulting honey is somewhat strong in flavor, 
the variation observed in the nectar of other honey-plants not being 
observed in this case. 
RELATION TO OTHER BEEKEEPING REGIONS. 
The northern limits of the tulip-tree are in the clover region, but 
the tree is most abundant in those parts of the country where white 
and alsike clovers are not reliable sources of honey. The tulip-tree 
extends southward into the sourwood* region of the southern Ap- 
palachian Mountains and is common in some parts of the Coastal 
Plains of the South, where the tupelo and black gums,‘ gall-berry,® 
and titi® are the chief sources. As a rule the tulip-tree region is 
not coincident with any region where a leguminous plant is the chief 
source of honey, and in the other regions mentioned tulip-trees are 
not sufficiently abundant to be considered a main honey source. 
Since the tulip-tree is found throughout the entire range of sourwood, 
the modifications of beekeeping practice to obtain sourwood honey 
will be mentioned later. As the tulip-tree is such an important 
source of early nectar, the region is one in which the beekeeper will 
wish to choose methods that will enable him to get all the honey 
possible from this source. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TULIP-TREE. 
The tulip-tree is a magnificent forest tree, growing at times to a 
height of 125 feet and a diameter of 5 to 6 feet. The leaves are large 
3 Orydendrum arboreum, 4 Nyssa spp. 5 Ilex glabra. 6 Cyrilla racemiflora. 
