150 AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



off and the magnolia honej^ was no more. Those three days of damp, 

 cool and cloudy weather saved many old style gums from being 

 turned bottom up, in the spring, in this section."— J. J. Wilder, Cordele, 

 Georgia. American Bee Journal, Feb. 15, 1906. 



MAGUEY, see Century Plant. 

 MAHOGANY GUM, see Eucalyptus. 



MAINE— The Honey Flora of. 



A large number of plants produce both pollen and nectar, but in 

 Maine comparatively few yield a surplus of honey — the most important 

 being white clover, alsike clover, fruit bloom, raspberry, fireweed and 

 goldenrod. 



Aster (Aster). The asters are of some value in this State, and in late 

 fall bees may be seen frequently on the flowers. Aster paniculatus ap- 

 pears to be the most important. In some localities in the Middle States 

 the ground is white with the blossoms of field asters. Pure honey, white or 

 perhaps sometimes light amber. It is gathered so late that often it may 

 not be fully ripened. 



Apple (Pyrus malus). Yields a small surplus occasionally in this State. 

 Honey of fine quality, light amber with aromatic flavor. 



Bass'wood (Tilia americana). So rare in this State as to be of little 

 importance. 



Blackberry (Rubus). Yields little nectar in the Northern States ; but 

 a surplus is reported in Georgia and California. 



Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum).. Visited by insects in large num- 

 bers, but not common enough to j-ield a surplus. 



Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Not extensively grown in Maine, 

 but fields of it are cultivated in many localities. A dark, purplish honey. 



Button-bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Common in swamps, but not 

 important. 



Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense). Not very important in this State, 

 but more common westward. Honey light and well flavored. 



Carrot (Daucus Carota). Naturalized from Europe, common in fields. 



Clover, white (Trifolium repens). A fine white honey of delicious fla- 

 vor. Alsike clover (T. hybridum) is an equally good honey plant, honey 

 similar. Both are abundant in Maine, especially northward. In dry sea- 

 sons bees are able to gather nectar from red clover, a bumblebee flower. 



Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). A good honey plant in the neighborhood 

 of pickle factories. Honey with flavor of the fruit, but improves with age. 



Currant (Ribes). The various species of currants and gooseberries, 

 both wild and cultivated, are of some importance. 



Dandelion (Taraxicum officinale). More valuable for pollen than 

 nectar in this State. Honey golden yellow, thick, strong-flavored, crys- 

 tallizing in a few weeks. 



Goldenrod (Solidago). A most valuable honey plant in New England. 

 In southern Maine it never fails to give a large surplus, the main de- 

 pendence of the beekeeper for winter stores. Honey golden yellow, fine 



