AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 41 



BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium). 



There are at least four species of blueberry which give surplus honey 

 in localities where they are abundant. According to Sladen, the dwarf 

 or early sweet blueberry, (Vaccinium pennsylvanicum), and the sour-top 

 or velvet-leaf blueberry (Vaccinium canadense), often give surplus in 

 northern Ontario, northern Quebec and eastern Manitoba. 



Blueberry honey is frequently reported from New England. W. J. 

 Sheppard reports that Vaccinium ovalifolium is of importance in British 

 Columbia. 



There are several other species in the Northeastern States that proba- 

 bly yield some nectar. Sladen reports blueberry as important in Nova 

 Scotia. 



According to Lovell Vaccinium corymbosum, the high bush blueberry, 

 is important in southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti- 

 cut, in some localities beekeepers being principally dependent upon it. The 

 flow comes late in May or early June and lasts for about ten days. Strong 

 colonies store as high as 50 to 90 pounds of surplus from it. He reports 

 V. pennsylvanicum, the low bush blueberry already mentioned, as common 

 throughout northern New England, in pastures and on rocky land. It is 

 important in the blueberry barrens of Maine. The honey is amber and 

 of good flavor. 



BLUEBONNET, see Lupine. 

 BLUEBOTTLE, see Centaurea. 



BLUE CURLS (Trichostema lanceolatum). 



Blue curls is a plant known by a great variety of names in California. 

 It is known as vinegar weed, camphor weed, turpentine weed, flea weed, 

 bastard-pennyroyal, etc. It abounds over a large portion of California. 

 According to Jepson, the range is throughout the Coast Ranges, Sierra 

 Nevada foothills and southern California. The Western Honeybee lists 

 it as the best fall honey plant in California. Both foliage and flowers have 

 a pungent, penetrating odor. The plant is found mostly in stubble fields, 

 where it appears after grain harvest. From the same source we quote as 

 follows : 



"Under favorable atmospheric conditions it yields abundantly of 

 a very white honey, that granulates quickly and with a fine grain. 

 Sometimes it granulates before the bees have time to seal the cells. 

 One peculiarity of this plant is that it continues to yield honey for 

 several hours after falling to the ground. The quality of the honey is 

 good." — Western Honeybee. October, 1914. 



"It is often claimed that rain will end the honeyflow from blue 

 curls. I find by several seasons' observation that this is an error. If a 

 rain is followed by favorable atmospheric conditions — warmth and hu- 

 midity — the nectar secretion is increased instead of diminished." — • 

 Western Honeybee, November, 1916.. 



The flow from blue curls begins in August and continues till frost. 

 Richter reports that very large yields are sometimes secured from this 

 source, tons of honey sometimes being stored in the vicinity of Fresno. A 



