212 AAIERICAN HOXEY PLANTS 



color, that is widely cultivated as a food for stock and for pie. There are 

 numerous varieties of various sizes and colors. The blossoms are large and 

 showy and very attractive to the bees. The plants yield an abundance of 

 pollen as well as nectar. The honey is amber and not of high quality, and 

 granulates readily. 



Where pumpkins are grown on a large scale for stock feed or for can- 

 ning factories, they are a valuable source of bee pasture. 



PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum). 



There are two species of lythrum frequently reported as noney plants. 

 The European species, Lythrum Salicaria, the spiked loosestrife, has be- 

 come naturalized in wet places from Nova Scotia to Delaware. According 

 to H. D. House, State Botanist of New York, it is common in and around 

 the inlets and backwaters of the Hudson River all up and down that 

 stream. It is also common up the Mohawk Valley, at Oneida Lake and 

 along the railroads westward across the State to Lake Erie. It is a tall 

 plant of vigorous growth, but as it confines itself largely to wet places, it 

 is not likely to be any more of a nuisance than the usual coarse weeds 

 growing in such situations. The bees work this plant freely and occasional 

 reports of honey from this source are received from New York State. The 

 honey is very dark and of strong flavor, having a slight tobacco-like taste 

 as it gets older. 



Lythrum alatum, a native species, is found from Ontario and Minnesota 

 south to Georgia, Florida and Texas. A report from Oklahoma is to the 

 efifect that it blooms with sweet clover, lasting till frost. The bees work 

 upon it from daylight till dark in either wet or dry weather. Similar re- 

 ports come from Texas. It is found on low lands in the southwest. 



It is also reported by beekeepers from New Orleans as attractive to 

 bees in Louisiana. 



QUEBEC— Honey Sources of. 



In Quebec alsike and white clover furnish the principal surplus honey. 

 In the southern part of the province buckwheat, basswood and sweet 

 clover are also important. Fireweed, blueberry, goldenrod and aster are 

 the source of surplus honey over much of the province and willows and 

 maples are valuable for spring brood rearing. — F. W. L.Sladen. 



QUERCUS, see Oak. 

 QUININE Tree, see Hop-Tree. 



