98 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



GEORGIA— Honey flora of. 



The earliest blooming of our spring forage plants is the alder (alnus), 

 which commences about the middle of January and lasts,, some seasons, 

 till the middle of February. It yields little or no honey, but during its 

 time of bloom, its pollen-laden catkins are covered with bees. The amount 

 of pollen that this plant affords is immense; and it comes in a time when 

 breeding should be most encouraged. 



Fig. 57. Gallberry. 



In some sections of the South, particularly on light, sandy soils, there 

 may be found some yellow jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens). As- its 

 flowers possess very decided toxical properties, it is not a very desirable 

 plant to have within range of one's bees. It blooms after the alder While 

 our native black ])ees are very seldom seen working upon it, the Italians, 

 in some seasons, will work upon it quite briskly. I am inclined to think, 

 from close observation, that it is mostly pollen they gather from it, though 

 in some seasons it does yield some honey. 



