AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 9 



substituting another in many sections. When the author visited west 

 Texas he was told by the beekeepers there that the clearing of the land 

 and planting it to cultivated crops was rapidly curtailing the bee range, 

 as no cultivated crops being planted were equal to the desert flora which 

 was being removed. 



In other sections, the planting of forage crops which are good sources 

 of nectar, like alfalfa and sweet clover, is greatly increasing the available 

 bee pasturage. In parts of California, the extensive growing of garden 

 seeds is providing pasture sufificient for producing surplus honey of a kind 

 seldom heard of in the markets a few years ago. Parsnip and celery 

 honey are examples. 



THE MINOR PLANTS 



Although only a few dozen plants are important sources of surplus 

 honey, there are hundreds of minor plants which are of value for the sup- 

 port they give the bees when no 

 major plant is in bloom. The num- 

 ber and variety of these plants 

 will largely determine the value 

 of the locality, and whether it will 

 be necessary for the beekeeper to 

 resort to migratory beekeeping at 

 times. 



Catnip is famous as a bee 

 plant, yet it is doubtful whether a 

 single pound of catnip honey was 

 ever stored in America, unmixed 

 with honey from other sources. If 

 catnip could be grown in large 

 fields like clover, it is probable 

 that catnip honey would appear 

 in the markets. 



If the beekeeper is familiar 

 with the minor plants, he will 

 often be able to locate outyards 

 where the bees will be able to 

 gather enough nectar from such 

 sources to keep his colonies in the 

 best possible condition for the 

 surplus flows. It is a well-known 

 fact that it is only the big colonies 

 which produce large crops of surplus honey. A little nectar coming to 

 the hive for some time in advance of the main flow, is the best possible 

 stimulant for brood rearing. It often happens that bees will be poorly 

 prepared for the harvest in one yard, while others only two or three miles 

 distant will be in the best possible condition, because of the presence of 

 some minor plants not within reach of the first. 



■Icacia far- 



