AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



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ture (Fig. 67) shows a bunch of raisin grapes that had been sucked dry 

 by the bees. In that locality rains are very infrequent when the raisins 

 are being dried. They are spread out in thin layers in crates and the 

 crates left in the sun, or piled up one above another, till fully dry. 

 Previous to the writer's visit there had been an unexpected rain, and some 

 raisins were allowed to get wet. As a result they cracked open, and there 

 being just 'then no available nectar for the bees, they swarmed over the 



07. Raisin gr 



IS have Ijeen broken by ram. 



raisins and sucked them dry, as shown in the picture. The grower admit- 

 ted, however, that the raisins had been so badly damaged by the rain as 

 to be of little value. 



The thing which few grape growers seem to understand, is that it is 

 unfortunate, indeed, for the beekeeper in northern regions, whose bees fill 

 their hives with this grape juice. In the north there are long periods 

 during the long winter months when the bees are unable to leave the hive. 

 Since the bee is only able to void her excrement while on the wing, there 

 is a large accumulation of feces during such long confinement. If the bees 

 have only the best white honey for food the tax is severe at best. When 



