AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 237 



of woods and along streams from Virginia to southern Illinois and south- 

 ward to Florida and eastern Texas. It is a relative of the cowitch. (See 

 Cowitch). It is common in Alabama and Georgia from the central belt to 

 the coast plain, where it begins to bloom in June. It is reported as being 

 the source of considerable honey of fair quality. 



SOAPBERRY, see Wild China. 



SOAPBUSH (Guaiacum angustifolium). 



The soapbush is native to the dry lands of south Texas and northern 

 Mexico. It blooms after rains in both spring and fall. At Crystal City, 

 Texas, it is reported as the source of the first honey in spring, coming in 

 March. Beekeepers report that with very little moisture soapbush can be 

 depended upon for honey and that it yields nectar every time it blooms. 

 The honey is of fine quality, mild flavor and light color. The flow lasts 

 from ten to fifteen days. (Fig. 126.) The soapbush has very hard wood, 

 crooked and knotty branches and in places becomes a small tree and is 

 known as lignum-vitae. 



SOLIDAGO, see Goldenrod. 



SORGHUM. 



The sorghums are widely planted as forage crops. They yield pollen in 

 great abundance and at times honeydew is gathered from this source, also. 



SORREL-TREE, see Sourwood. 

 SOULARD CRAB APPLE, see Crab Apple. 

 SOUR-GUM, see Tupelo. 

 SOUR-TOP, see Blueberry. 



SOURWOOD (Oxydendrum arboreum). 



The sourwood tree reaches a height of thirty to forty feet and a di- 

 ameter of twelve inches, on high lands, but seldom exceeds twenty feet 

 in height on the low lands. It is a common tree from West Virginia to 

 north Georgia and west to Arkansas. The white flowers grow in racemes 

 and appear in July. It is sometimes called sorrel tree, because of the 

 acidity of its leaves. The wood is soft and is not of much value except 

 for light fuel. 



Sourwood honey ranks high, both in quality and in quantity of yield. 

 Many people regard it as the finest honey produced in America. It is 

 light in color, of heavy body, fine flavor and slow to granulate. The bloom 

 lasts from two to three weeks and comes in mid-summer, when bees have 

 ample time to build up to maximum strength for the flow. Although sour- 

 wood honey is produced in limited areas in several States. North Carolina 

 and eastern Tennessee probably contain the finest forests and remarkable 

 yields are sometimes reported in this region. The crop from this source 

 seldom fails and it is regarded as one of the most dependable sources of 

 nectar. A lady beekeeper, writing from North Carolina, stated in the 



