238 



American Hee Journal 



indefinitely, since most of them furnish 

 some pollen. Enough have been con- 

 sidered, however, to do justice to the 

 subject of pollen producers. Those 

 which produce nectar as well as pollen, 

 are worthy of special consideration. 



n.\NI>ELION. 



The dandelion ( '] araxacum ofliciiiale) 

 is one of the most widely distributed 

 plants in America. Originally intro 

 duced from Europe, it has been natur- 



KIG, 34,-CHEKkY BuOsSOMS 



Fig. 32,— Pollen-bearing Bloom of the 

 Red Oak 



alized over practically the entire con- 

 tinent. As each plant will produce 

 hundreds of seeds, which are borne for 

 long distances on the wind, its wide 

 distribution is not surprising. The 

 plant is sometimes used for medicinal 

 purposes, serving as a mild laxative 

 and tonic. The tender shoots are very 

 popular as a table delicacy in early 

 spring, with those who are fond of 

 greens. The bright yellow flowers are 

 very showy, and if the plant was not so 

 abundant, would be considered attrac- 

 tive. The warfare against the dande- 

 lion of the lawns is as relentless and 

 as continuous as the campaign against 



KIG 11.-DANDELI0N 



the house-fly. Little is to be accom- 

 plished by digging the plants from 

 one's own lawn, when a whole pasture- 

 ful are going to seed a mile or two 

 away. 



The beekeeper has little to complain 

 of from these weeds, as there is noth- 

 ing of greater value during the short 

 period of bloom. While the honey 

 gathered from dandelions is dark and 

 strong, most of it will be consumed for 

 brood-rearing. Occasionally a small 

 surplus will be secured from this 

 source, but it blooms so early that sur- 

 plus is unusual. Large quantities of 

 pollen as well as nectar are produced, 

 so that a large acreage of dandelions 

 within reach of the apiary is much to 

 be desired. Figure 83 shows the plant 

 as it appears during the period of 

 bloom, with blossoms and unopened 

 buds. 



Hon. Eugene Secor, the beekeeper's 

 poet, has written a number of things 

 regarding the intimate relation existing 

 between bees and flowers, and for one 

 of these, the dandelion furnished the 

 inspiration : 



" Here's a bee. my children see! 

 Galherinir sweets for you and me. 

 On Sir Dandy Irion's crown ; 

 Slie is yellow that was brown. 

 Yellow with tlieKolden dust 

 Lent to her in solemn trust; 

 Blossoms ban'rinn gold (or gold. 

 ThrouKh this dusty trader bold. 

 Dandy Lion seeks a bride. 

 .Sends his offerings far and wide 

 With his trusty friend the bee. 

 And with honey [lays the fee." 



THE ORCHARU FRUIT.S. 



The orchard fruits are too well 

 known to require extended considera- 

 tions. While pictures of the blossoms 

 of the various fruits are interesting 

 and attractive, they are of no value in 

 assisting the beekeeper to recognize 

 the source of the honey, as he is 

 already familiar with the blossoms of 

 such trees as apples, peaches, pears, 

 cherries and plums. Figures :!4 and 35 

 show cherry and plum blossoms for 



