160 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



Fig. 92. Blossoms of the milkweed. 

 MILKWEED VINE, see Bluevine, 



MINNESOTA— Honey Sources of. 



In early spring the willows and maples, followed by dandelions are im- 

 portant for spring brood rearing. Fruit bloom is also valuable in spring. 

 White clover and alsike are the most important sources of surplus. Prob- 

 ably there is no place in the world where these clovers yield nectar more 

 abundantly than in Minnesota. Sweet clover is also important in some 

 sections of the State. Willow herb or fireweed, basswood. goldenrod and 

 asters may be mentioned. 



MINT (Mentha). 



Richter lists the spearmint, or peppermint, (Mentha spicata), as yield- 

 ing a great abundance of amber colored honey in Sacramento County, 

 California and southward. Spearmint was introduced from Europe and 

 has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in many places, both 

 east and west. 



He also lists the tule mint (Mentha canadensis) as yielding honey from 



