June, iyi5. 



American Vae Journal 



of the day on which they began to 

 bring pollen to the hive. The spring 

 was very late, and Easter Sunday was 

 the first really warm day we had. 



On visiting the hives, I found that 

 the bees were bringing in pollen, and 

 on investigation found the soft maples 

 in bloom. Barring killing frost or 

 other extraordinary condition there 

 will be hardly a day from the first 

 warm days of spring until the freezing 



Fig. Ji— Pussy Willow Bloom 



weather of October or November, 

 when natural pollen is not to be had. 

 While the honey flows are of the great- 

 est importance, the sources of pollen 

 are not to be ignored, especially in 

 spring. 



W ILLOW. 



In the northern States the blooming 

 of the pussy willow (^Sa/ix discolor) is 

 among the first signs of spring. It is 

 a small tree growing along streams 

 and on wet lands. Furnishing as it 

 does about the first honey of the sea- 

 son, as well as pollen in abundance, it 

 is highly regarded by the beekeepers. 



There are about 160 species of wil- 

 lows, mostly confined to the cooler 

 and temperate regions of North Amer- 

 ica. Some species extend their range 

 into the arctic regions, where the vege- 

 tation is sparse. While the number of 

 varieties is not so great in the south- 

 ern States, it is regarded as valuable 

 in the Gulf States and in California. 

 .■\s an example of the comparative 

 abundance of willows North and South, 

 it may be mentioned that four species 

 are recorded for .Alabama and 18 for 

 Connecticut. The willows bloom too 

 early in spring in the norther i States 

 for the bees to store surplus from this 



FIG, 24,-AN EASTER SUNDAY BOUQUET OF PUSSY WILLOW AND SOFT MAPLE 



FIG. 25 -HONEY BEE ON MAPLE BLOSSOMS 



