AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 145 



It often happens that the crop will be a failure in one location, while 

 but a few miles away it would be possible to gather a surplus by moving 

 the bees. As an example, at Hamilton, Illinois, in 1919, the clover crop was 

 a failure and 'the bees were on the point of requiring feed at the time 

 when the clover harvest should be coming in. By moving their bees from 

 fifteen to forty miles, the Dadants were able to harvest about forty thou- 

 sand pounds of honey, instead of feeding to carry their bees through the 

 winter. 



It has become the practice of many California beekeepers to secure 

 more than one crop by moving their bees several times during the season. 

 Following the harvest from one source, the bees are moved by truck to 

 other fields. Thus it is sometimes possible to use the same apiaries to 

 harvest two or three good crops in a single season. 



In like manner a well-known California queen breeder has found it 

 possible to greatly increase his output b}' moving his queen-rearing yards 

 to new fields when the nectar supply had ceased in his own location. 



The variation in the supply of nectar in different localities is ex- 

 tremely great. A few locations will support several hundred colonies in 

 one yard. Other locations will hardly support twenty colonies profitably. 

 A careful study of the flora within reach is most important to the bee- 

 keeper. One who fully understands his location can adapt his system to 

 his conditions and succeed where failure would otherwise result. John W. 

 Cash, of north Georgia, had about eight hundred colonies of bees in a 

 section where thirty colonies would overstock any single location. By es- 

 tablishing a large number of apiaries in widely scattered situations, he was 

 able to secure a surprising uniformity of yield. For a period of several 

 years he never secured less than 56 pounds average of surplus per colony. 

 At the same time his highest average was 86 pounds per colony. 



The combination of plants which yield surplus honey with those which 

 yield pollen and those which furnish some nectar during the periods be- 

 tween the flows, together with climatic conditions, determine the value of 

 a location for beekeeping. It does not require much skill to secure a crop 

 of honey in a location where every condition is favorable, but the man who 

 is fully acquainted with the flora will discount the crops of the hit-and- 

 miss apiarist even there. In the poor locality it takes a thorough knowl- 

 edge of the sources of honey and pollen, together with expert beekeeping 

 to succeed. 



LOCO WEED (Astragalus). Also called Rattle Weed or Buffalo Bean. 



There are several species of Astragalus, common to the Rocky Mou- 

 tain region, from Manitoba south to Texas, and west to California. The 

 loco weeds are herbs with odd-pinnate leaves, and spikes or racemes of 

 purple, white, or pale yellow flowers. 



Several varieties are poisonous and are the source of heavy losses 

 among the stockmen of the plains and mountain regions. Honey from loco 

 is reported principally from Colorado, where it is mentioned as blooming 

 with horsemint, in May and June. It is to be found mostly in the foot- 



