AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



99 



The wild plum (in some sections known as the hog plum) usually 

 commences to bloom the last of February and lasts for two or three weeks. 

 This is peculiarly a southern tree, and grows to great perfection nearly 

 everywhere. Whole acres are often covered with it, forming a dense 

 thicket, thus affording the bees rich pasture. 



In March we have the p''ach, the apple (which continues into April), 

 the mock orange, or evergreen wild cherry (Cerasus carolinaensis), the 

 huckleberry, strawberry, and a few other plants of minor consideration. 

 Further south they have the titi, the saw palmetto and the orange, all 

 good forage plants. 



Fig. .5S. Gennaiider, or wood sage. 



The willow, wild cherry, hawthorn, blackberries, raspberries, locust, 

 holly and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) bloom in April. The two 

 latter are most valuable for honey. The holly blooms for about two weeks 

 — the height of its flowering is about the first week in May. The tulip 

 tree blooms for three weeks. This is the poplar tree of the south. 



In May we have the black gum (Nyssa multiflora) and the persimmon, 

 both excellent for forage. The blooms of these trees are dioecious, that 



