AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



29 



Fig. 



Blossoms of the banana. 



The following description of the possibilities of this plant is reprinted 

 from page 83 of the American Bee Journal for 1880, and was written by a 

 correspondent in Clifton Springs, Florida: 



"Recently noticing bees working upon blossoms, I concluded to ex- 

 amine them. To my surprise, I found that each blossom had a sack on 

 its under side, which contained several drops of nectar of the consist- 

 ency and sweetness of thin syrup. This sack gradually opens, allowing 

 the contents to escape, unless appropriated by some insect. The blossom 

 ' hangs in a position 'that rain cannot enter to dilute or wash out the 

 nectar. Procuring a teaspoon, I emptied into it the contents of a dozen 

 blossoms, which filled it full. Each stalk, on good land, will produce 

 a head having a hundred hands or divisions of blossoms, and each hand 

 averages six blossoms, giving 600 blossoms to the stalk. Estimating 

 100 teaspoonfuls to the pint (88 of the one used filled a pint measure) 

 we have SO spoonfuls, or half a pint to the stalk. Planted in checks 

 8x8 feet, there will be 680 plants to the acre, yielding, according to the 

 above estimate, AZYz gallons of nectar. But usually more than one 

 stalk in a hill blossoms and matures fruit annually. The blossoms 

 used were below those that produce fruit, which later, I am told, are 

 much richer in honey. 



"The first blossoms which open mature fruit. These vary in num- 

 ber from 25 to 100, according to quality of land, cultivation, etc. They 



