40 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



blacktree. It is an evergreen tree, growing along the seashores of the 

 coast of Florida. It is said also to occur to some extent along the gulf 

 coast to Texas and throughout the coasts of Tropical America. It varies 

 from a bushy shrub to a tall tree 60 or more feet in height in tropical re- 

 gions. The wood is coarse-grained, hard and very durable in contact with 

 the soil. The tree is to be found only in the vicinity of salt water. 



The honey from the mangrove is light in color, mild in flavor, and is 

 generally regarded as of first quality. According to E. G. Baldwin it was 

 the heaviest yielder of nectar known in the south prior tj the big freeze 

 oi 1895. In one year he reports Harry Mitchell, of Hawk's Park, as having 

 secured an average of 380 pounds per colony from mangrove alone. Fol- 

 lowing the freeze it failed to yield nectar in surplus quantity for about 

 fifteen years, and reports since that time have indicated that it is not up to 

 its former importance. 



The blooming period opens about the middle of June and usually 

 includes the entire month of July. The flow usually lasts from six to 

 eight weeks. 



BLACK TREE, see Black Mangrove. 

 BLACKWOOD, see Black Mangrove. 



BLOODROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis). 



The bloodroot is a common wild flower in the moist woods of all our 

 Northern States. It blooms early in April, and is eagerly sought by the 

 bees for pollen. The plant is shown at Fig. 24. 



Fig. 24 



