224 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



there is a wet spring the seeds germinate early. When this is followed with 

 good rains in June the plants are vigorous and spreading in their growth 

 and each will have many blossoms. One year he extracted an average of 

 116 pounds per colony from a ten-days' flow. The honey is white in color, 

 with a greenish tinge. It has a rather sickening flavor when fresh, but im- 

 proves with age. When pure it is a first quality honey. It is rare that a 

 good crop is secured from his source. 



The plant thrives best on sandy and gravelly soils. 



Fig. ]20. Cleome, or Rocky Mountain bee plant. 

 ROMAN CANDLE, see Yucca. 



ROSE (Rosa). 



There are many species of roses of wide distribution. They yield 

 pollen abundantly and are frequently valuable, in localities where they 

 bloom when pollen is scarce. There are numerous reports of rose honey, 

 but in most cases the observer has probably mistaken the object of the 

 bees when working on the flowers. Several competent observers credit the 

 Cherokee rose as a source of nectar. (See Cherokee Rose.) 



"Some time ago quite a discussion was brought about by the as- 

 sertion of Gaston Bonnier, that one never saw bees upon roses, no 

 matter how colored or how fragrant. Dr. Miller replied that he had 

 often seen them upon the crimson ramblers and that they even tore 

 the buds open. 



