112 AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



they have fruit juice, honeydew or other food containing a large amourt 

 of waste matter, the intestines become so distended that the bees die for 

 lack of opportunity of a cleansing flight. Grape growers will in many 

 cases be surprised to learn that thousands of bees die from having filled 

 their combs with fruit juice instead of honey. Of course, the wide-awake 

 beekeeper will remove 'this material from the hive and give them good 

 honey or sugar syrup instead, if it is possible to do so. This, however, in- 

 volves a large amount of labor, and the gathering of the juice from the 

 grapes, instead of being an advantage to the beekeeper, is a serious incon- 

 venience to him. In southern California, where there is no winter con- 

 finement, 'there is no particular injury to the bees, other than spoiling the 

 grade of any honey with which it may happen to be mixed. 



The late Charles Dadant, who was one of the most widely known bee- 

 keepers of the past generation, on one occasion had a difficulty with some 

 growers who could not be made to understand tha't he was not getting rich 

 at the expense of his neighbors, when his bees were attracted to their 

 grapes. He decided that the only way to convince them that the interests 

 of the beekeeper and the grape grower were mutual, was to grow the 

 largest acreage of grapes in the neighborhood. This he proceeded to do, 

 and after he became the largest grower of grapes in his communi'ty there 

 was no longer any criticism, for they could readily see that he had too 

 much at stake in his grapes to permit him to be prejudiced in favor of 

 the bees. 



That bees are valuable in securing the fertilization of the blossoms of 

 some varieties of grapes, there is little question. 

 GRAPE FRUIT (Citrus decumana). 



Nowhere in America is the grape fruit cultivated in such extensive 

 orchards as is the case with the orange and lemon. It is recognized as a 

 valuable source of honey, but not equal to either of the foregoing. It is 

 an evergreen tree similar in habit to the other citrus fruits, and the area 

 devoted to its cultivation is being extended in various districts. 



Bees are very efficient pollenizers of grape fruit blossoms. The At- 

 wood grape fruit ranch, one of the largest in Florida, is provided with 

 two apiaries, brought there at the request of the manager of the ranch. 

 They hold that the trees bear a larger number of fruits since the bees 

 have been kept in close proximity. 



GRASSES. 



There are many grasses which are attractive to the bees for pollen. 

 Timothy or herd's grass produces pollen in great abundance and the bees 

 are often observed gathering it. Occasionally some honeydew may be 

 gathered from the grasses also, but no honey. 



GREASEWOOD (Adenostoma fasciculatum). CHAMISE. 



Greasewood is an evergreen bush or shrub of spreading habit about 

 two to ten feet in height. Jepson describes it as "the most abundant and 

 characteristic bush of the higher coast ranges and Sierra Nevada, com- 

 monly gregarious and occupying, to the exclusion of other shrubs, exten- 



