= be 
3, 
27 
There are many plants and trees of economic value, in addition to 
their production of honey, which may be utilized in one portion or 
another of the United States in the manner indicated. Adaptability 
to climate and soil, the periods of honey dearth to be filled in, markets 
for the crop produced, etc., must all come in to influence the choice. 
The following list includes the more important plants of economic 
value in this country which are good honey and pollen yielders. Most 
of those named are adapted to a considerable portion of the Union. 
Except in the case of plants restricted to the South, the dates given 
are applicable, in the main, to middle latitudes. 
ECONOMIC PLANTS AND TREES FOR CULTIVATION FOR HONEY 
AND POLLEN. 
Filbert bushes, useful for wind-breaks and for their nuts, yield pollen 
in February and March. 
Rape.can be grown successfully in the North for pasturage, for green 
manuring, or for seed, and when permitted to blossom yields consider- 
able pollen and honey. Winter varieties are sown late in the summer 
or early in the autumn, and blossom in April or May following. This 
early yield forms an excellent stimulus to brood rearing. Summer or 
bird rape, grown chiefly for its seed, blossoms about a month after 
sowing. It does best during the cooler months of the growing season. 
Russian or hairy vetch is a hardy leguminous plant of great value for 
forage and use in green manuring. The blossoms appear early in the 
season, and, where there is any lack in early pollen, especially in north- 
ern and cool regions, this vetch will be found of great value to the bees. 
Fruit blossoms—apricot, peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple, currant, 
and gooseberry—yield pollen and honey in abundance during April or 
May; strawberry and blackberry are sometimes visited freely by bees, 
but are generally far less important than the others mentioned. Colo- 
nies that have wintered well often gather during apple bloom 12 to 15 
pounds of surplus honey of fine quality. The raspberry secretes alarge 
amount of nectar of superb quality, and coming in May or June, thus 
later than the other fruit blossoms and when the colonies are stronger 
and the weather is more settled, full advantage can nearly always be 
taken of this yield. Grape and persimmon blossom also in June; the 
latter is an excellent source. In subtropical portions of the country 
orange and lemon trees yield fine honey in March and April, and the 
cultivation of the banana has added a profuse honey yielder which 
puts forth successive blossoms all through the summer months. 
Locust, tulip tree (‘‘ poplar,” or whitewood), and horse-chestnut, use- 
ful for shade, ornament, and timber, are all fine honey producers in 
May. The locust yields light-colored, clear honey of fine quality, the 
others amber-colored honey of good body and fair flavor. 
59 
