AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 151 



flavored, candying with a coarse grain in a few months. Solidago gramini- 

 folia and S. rugosa are the most important species in this State. 



Heartsease (Polygonum persicaria). This plant, so valuable in Illinois 

 and Nebraska, is of no importance in Maine; a bee is rarely seen on the 

 flowers. 



Horse-chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum). Not common, bees gather 

 both nectar and pollen. Bumblebee flowers. 



Locust, black (Robinia pseudo-acacia). Yields a surplus of white honey 

 further south, but not abundant in Maine. Often cultivated. 



Maple (Acer saccharum). The rock maple blooms in spring before the 

 leaves appear and the flowers are visited by bees in great numbers. The 

 red maple also yields nectar. 



Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Where the milkweed is abundant it is 

 a great help to the beekeeper. In Michigan it is increasing, and perhaps 

 also in Maine. The honey is excellent, with a fruity flavor. 



Mayweed (Anthemis cotula). Common by the roadside, a bitter honey, 

 apparently not important in this State. 



Mustard (Brassica). Very abundant in grain fields, where the flowers 

 often present an unbroken sheet of yellow. Probably never yields a sur- 

 plus in Maine. 



Pear (Pyrus communis.) Not of much importance, but has been known 

 to yield nectar very freely under suitable conditions. 



Plums and cherries (Prunus). All the species secrete nectar. The 

 choke-cherry, which is common in thickets, attracts many insects. 



Raspberry (Rubus idaeus, variety aculeatissimus). One of the best 

 honey plants, where the forest has been lumbered. A splendid honey of 

 finest flavor, suggestive of the berry. 



Sumac (Rhus typhina). This common shrub has the staminate and 

 pistillate flowers on different individual plants; not common enough in 

 Maine to yield a surplus. Honey bright amber, with a bitter flavor at first, 

 which later disappears. 



Sweet clover (Melilotus alba). Does not grow well on the clay soil of 

 this State; requires a limestone soil. 



Willow (Salix). Valuable in spring for both pollen and nectar, a great 

 help in building up the colonies and bridging over backward springs. 

 The pussy willow (Salix discolor) is most important. It could be planted 

 to advantage in useless wet land. 



Willow-herb (Epilobium angustifolium). Also called greweed, since it 

 springs up abundantly on land which has been burned over. An excellent 

 honey plant; honey water-white; flowers red purple.— John H. Lovell, 

 Bulletin of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Vol. xvii. No. 4. 



MAIZE, see Indian Corn. 



MALLOW (Malva). 



Several lists of honey plants contain some mention of the mallows. 

 The bees visit the flowers for both nectar and pollen, but the author can 

 find no record to indicate that they are anywhere important. 



