180 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



are able to get crops of much value from it. Goldenrod and asters are 

 important in many sections for late fall. 



OKLAHOMA— Honey Sources of. 



Fruit blossoms furnish nectar and pollen for early brood rearing. 

 Dandelions and willows are also important at this season. Cottonwood 

 yields pollen abundantly, as do other shade trees. Alfalfa horsemint, hore- 

 hound, sweet clover and cotton are important sources of surplus. 



Among the many minor sources may be mentioned Indian currant, but- 

 ton bush, asters, goldenrod, milkweeds, melons, etc. 



OKRA or GUMBO. 



Cook's Manual lists okra as a honey plant. It is a well-known garden 

 vegetable, especially popular in the South, but is seldom grown in quan- 

 tity sufficient to be important to the beekeeper. 



OLEASTER, WILD OLIVE, RUSSIAN OLIVE (Elaeagnus hortensis). 



The Russian oleaster, known botanically as Var songorica (Fig. 101) 

 \vas first introduced into this country by Professor J. L. Budd because of 

 its hardiness and ornamental qualities. The young trees branch freely 



Fig. 101. Oleaster or Russian Olive. 



and produce an abundance of white, scurfy foliage, which makes it a most 

 attractive and striking shrub. * * * It is one of the most fragrant of 

 cultivated small trees. The season of blossoming varies somewhat, but 

 with us (Iowa) is about the middle or early part of June. 



It is one of the I)cst of our spring honey plants. The bees visit the 



