92 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



pronounced flavor of eucalyptus honey there is little or no demand for 

 i^ in the retail trade." 



On the other hand, he describes white ironbark (Eucalyptus leucoxy- 

 lon) "a great honey producer, with a beautiful flavor much like vanilla 

 extract." 



Almost all of the honey seems t-f^ be gathered from the sources which 

 produce the poorer grade, so that tne eucalyptus honey is not favorably 

 known in the markets. 



The blooming period of the different species varies so that there are 

 some in bloom at all times during the year. The blue gum, already men- 

 tioned, blooms from December until June, while the sugar gum blooms 

 from August to November. Several species bloom during the winter 

 months, when they are especially valuable in sustaining the bees until 

 the time of the main honeyflows. Fig. 53 shows the eucalyptus blossoms. 



At the California short course, at Davis, in 1918, M. H. Mendleson, of 

 Ventura, spoke as follows concerning this source: 



Fig. .54. Avenue of eucalyptus trees in ("alifornia. 



"Every winter the gum, or eucalyptus, comes into bloom. Last 

 winter they filled two or three stories high on eucalyptus. I got 17^ 

 cents per pound for it; previously I never could get more than 4 cemts, 

 but it was seldom that I got a surplus from this source. The most 

 eucalyptus honey I have ever known was gathered last spring. 



"The scarlet bloom (Eucalyptus ficifolia) is one of the greatest 

 honey producers I have ever known. It grows from 10 to 25 feet and 



