AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



103 



valuable for this purpose. It is a well-known fact that the secretion of 

 nectar with any plant is greatly influenced by soil and climatic conditions. 

 Some of our most valuable honey plants have been reported as producing 

 no nectar when introduced into Australia. 



It is very probable that when we have studied the matter carefully 

 we will find that the same species of goldenrod varies as much in its 

 nectar secre'tion under different conditions as we know to be the case 

 with alfalfa. 



liislida. 



Lovell is of the opinion that all species of goldenrods secrete nectar 

 in some localities. This is quite probable, although there is very little 

 honey from goldenrod in Iowa from any species. Along the upper Missis- 

 sippi, in the northeastern counties, a few beekeepers report honey from 

 goldenrod. In other sections of Iowa beekeepers report that they have 

 never seen a bee on the plant. Dr. L. H. Pammel, botanist at the State 

 Experiment Station, reports nine species of goldenrovis common to that 

 State. He lists S. serotina, S. canadensis and S. grami..iifoIia as furnishing 

 some honey here. If Lovell is right about all yielding nectar under some 

 conditions, then all are of interest to the beekeeper, -tnd it remains a 

 question of learning the conditions under which each species develops 

 most favorably. If all do not yield nectar, it is important that we learn to 



