AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 155 



MARJORAM (Origanum vulgare). 



The marjoram is an European plant, cultivated in gardens, which has 

 become naturalized along roadsides in the Atlantic Coast States. Ac- 

 cording to Lovell, it is a favorite of honeybees ; not sufficiently common to 

 be of much value. 



MARRUBIUM, see Hoarhound. 



MARYLAND— Honey Sources of. 



Willows, maples, fruit blossoms and dandelion furnish nectar and 

 pollen for spring brood rearing. Tulip-poplar is probably the most import- 

 ant source of surplus where the bees are prepared to gather it. Coming so 

 early, few beekeepers have their colonies ready for this flow. Clover, 

 locust, sumac, holly, laurel, clethra, heartsease, Spanish needle, asters and 

 goldenrod are valuable. Tupelo and black-gum are also to be found in the 

 State. There is a long list of minor sources similar to those listed for New 

 Jersey. 



MASSACHUSETTS— Honey Flora of. 



White clover, found in nearly all quarters of the State. 



Alsike clover. Under favorable conditions it yields not only a good 

 ([uality of nectar but large quantities of it. 



Red clover. The second flowering is somewhat accessible to bees. 



Sweet clover. Two species, neither abundant in Massachusetts. 



Goldenrod and asters. Rank close to clovers in nectar production. 



Fruit bloom. Apple, pear, cherry, plum, peach, etc., source of early 

 stores, upon which the colonies build up for the clover harvest. The body 

 is heavy, the color clear and light and the flow comes with a rush, which 

 insures handsome sections; but best of all is the exquisite aroma of the ap- 

 ple blossom, which places fruit bloom honey in a class by itself. 



Linden or basswood. Doubtless the most valuable tree honey plant 

 in Massachusetts. 



Buckwheat. Reported from all counties in Massachusetts. 



Wild raspberry and blackberry. The nectar flow is of long duration, 

 beginning after fruit bloom has ceased. 



Several species of sumac are important honey sources which are 

 greatly underestimated. 



Locust. A valuable forage for bees. Reported as sporadic in yield. 



Maple. Probably of less importance as a honey plant than the mints, 

 strawberry and milkweed. 



Clethra. Known also as black alder and sweet pepper bush. A valu- 

 able honey secreting plant, largely confined to a belt paralleling the east- 

 ern coast. 



Milkweed. Where milkweed occurs in large quantities it is a valuable 

 honey plant. Reported as important from Berkshire County. 



Wild cherry, knotweed, dandelion, strawberry, chestnut, mints, gill- 

 over-the-ground and mustard also reported occasionally as valuable. 



Willow and skunk cabbage valuable for early pollen as well as some 

 nectar.— Burton N, Gates. Bulletin 129, Mass. Ag. Ex. Sta. 



