50 AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



BUCKTHORN (Rhamnus). 



The common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is a hedge plant intro- 

 duced from Europe and commonly cultivated. It has become naturalized 

 in some localities. 



In California there are three species reported as important sources of 

 honey. The coffee berry (Rhamnus californica) is an evergreen shrub 

 4 to 6 feet high, with olive-like leaves, common to the Coast Ranges and 

 the Sierra Nevada Mountains and southward. Called also pigeon berry. 



Richter reports this species as yielding an amber honey of very heavy 

 body in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and also in San 

 Diego County. Honey of good flavor, slightly cathartic. 



The redberry (Rhamnus crocea) occurs in the Napa Range and south- 

 ward near the coast to southern California, according to Jepson. It is 

 tree-like, with a distinct trunk, sometimes several stems clustered, 5 to 12 

 feet high. Richter reports it of special value for early breeding. 



The Cascara Sagrada or Chittam (Rhamnus purshiana) occurs in 

 northern California, where it is reported as an important source of amber 

 honey. In the timbered portions of western Oregon, Washington and 

 British Columbia, it is reported as one of the chief sources of honey. The 

 honey is amber, with a delightful aroma. When fully ripened it is too 

 thick to extract readily, and there is much breakage of combs. The flow 

 begins in May and the honey is usually mixed with that from other plants. 

 The blooming period lasts about a month. 



"We get more honey from cascara than from any other one plant 

 in this vicinity. It is so dark as a comb honey that it is a poor seller 

 to those who go on looks alone. We prefer it on our table to any 

 other honey. I have customers who will take no other. It is not purga- 

 tive, but one of the best remedies for chronic constipation known. I 

 have never known any of the pure article to granulate under any con- 

 ditions."— A. D. Herold, Gleanings, Jan. 1, 1910. 



BUCKWHEAT (Fagopyrum esculentum). 



Buckwheat is a native to Asia, which was early introduced into 

 America from Europe by the colonists. It has become an important field 

 crop, and buckwheat flour is a staple in American markets. It is often 

 sowed as a catch crop on lands that have not been ready for early sown 

 crops, or where the first sowed crop failed to secure a stand. It requires 

 a short season in which to reach maturity and is usually sown in June or 

 July. It needs a cool, moist climate for best results and often fails to 

 yield a satisfactory crop of grain or to secrete nectar in the hot and dry 

 atmosphere of Iowa and Nebraska. 



It is well suited to sandy or other light soils and is grown exten- 

 sively in the sandy lands of northern Michigan. 



Buckwheat is an important source of surplus honey in the region of 

 the Great Lakes. Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan 

 are the States from which come the great crops of buckwheat honey. 

 Although the crop is often grown further west, the amount of honey 

 secured is very disappointing in most cases. The author corresponded with 

 a number of prominent Iowa beekeepers, and found only one who had 



