AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 21 



quality. The trees bloom so early that it is of greatest value to stimulate 

 spring brood-rearing, though strong colonies easily store surplus when the 

 weather is suitable for the bees to fly freely during the period of bloom. 

 Large orchardists often offer inducements to beekeepers to locate near 

 their orchards for the better pollination of the fruit blossoms which re- 

 sults from the presence of large numbers of bees. In orchard districts 

 there is frequently complaint on the part of the beekeepers that the bees 

 are killed by the application of poisonous spray while the trees are in 

 bloom. When American beekeepers learn to winter their colonies in such 

 a manner as to maintain a reasonable strength in early spring, surplus 

 honey in quantity may be expected from the orchard districts in favorable 

 seasons. The weather is often too wet or too cold for the bees to fly 

 during apple blossom, and this condition the apiarist can never overcome. 



APOCYNUM, see Dogbane. 



APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca). 



The apricot is a well known cultivated fruit, somewhat intermediate 

 between the plum and peach. It blooms very early in spring and is valu- 

 able as a source of early nectar and pollen. It is grown in large acreage 

 in some portions of California, where it is regarded as valuable, by the 

 beekeepers. 



ARBUTUS (Epigaea repens). Trailing Arbutus or Ground Laurel. 



A trailing plant with evergreen leaves. The rose coiore'd flowers, in 

 small clusters, appear in early spring. They are fragrant and attractive to 

 the bees. There is an occasional report to the effect that arbutus is 

 valuable to the bees as a source of early nectar. 



ARCTOSTAPHYLOS, see Manzanita. 

 ARIZONA BUCKTHORN, see Gum Elastic. 



ARIZONA— Honey Sources of. 



The sources of our honey are the desert flora and cultivated crops, 

 chiefly alfalfa. A few of the principal producing plants and their seasons 

 are as follows : Time of Blooming. 



Mesquite (Prosopia velutina) April-July 



Screw Bean (Prosopis pubescens) April-July 



Catsclaw (Acacia greggii) May-June 



Acacia (Acacia constricta) June 



Paloverde (Parkinsonia torreyana) May 



Desert flora (Miscellaneous) Depending upon rainfall 



Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) April-September 



The wild honey plants, because of grazing animals and of wood-cutters, 

 have greatly decreased within recent years. The area in alfalfa, on the 

 other hand, is constantly increasing; but without a corresponding increase 

 in honey-producing power. This is due to two principal causes: Farmers 



