AUGUST \r^, 1915 



675 



mine flie normal flowering period, for blos- 

 son)s may be i'uujul in the forest tlirougliout 

 the year; but it is usually autunm (and 

 somdimes right through the winter) when 

 the crop is "harvested. As the abundant 

 ereaniy-eolored pollen is rich in nitrogenous 

 proteid the colonies develop in a truly won- 

 derful manner, and are (luite as strong m 

 midwinter as in midsummer. It is diilicult, 

 however, to extract in the cool weather. The 

 rich amber honey— this species yields the 

 palest nectar of any stringy bark— is .so 

 dense that it cling-s to the e.xtraetor-can m 

 thick ropes, and etiectually prevents the reel 

 revolving. Colo)iics are thus always in fine 

 order for the red-box flow in early spring. 

 The flavor of the honey is full and rich, so 

 that other honey tastes insipid in compari- 

 son. In the drawing, the operculum, or 

 cap, is shown as it clears the expanding 

 stamens. This characteristic is responsible 

 for the name "eucalyptus," meaning well 



t^luflJ^GED To Si^o^ 

 Oik 



CflPSlJLE 



j^Red Box^ 



Tpnis lE.poh/anfheMosJ 



Api>ropriately the many-flowered box; for 

 every second year the trees resemble gnant 

 cauliflowei-s. 'The veiy pale dense honey 

 rarely candies, and is of fine flavor. This 

 eucafypt blooms in early spring, and yields 

 a little pollen and a great flow of honey- 

 up to 150 lbs. per hive— over a period of 

 three months. This species is found chiefly 

 on stony, gravelly ridges in combination 

 wifli some variety of stringy bark. The tim- 

 ber is ruddy, liard enough to gap the best 

 .vir.erican ax, and is very dense It is much 

 sought after for railway-siee|jer.s, bridge- 

 beam.s, and fence-posts, because white ants 

 (termites) do not readily attack it. The 

 foliage is bluish in color. 



GIPPSLAKD STRl.N'GY BARK (E. EUGENIOIDES) . 



Tliis eucalypt favors poor sandy country, 

 and its period of florescence is so prolonged 

 that weak colonies are able to build up 

 strongly and store a good surplus. An 

 apiarist here in Gipps once secured 14 tons 

 from 150 colonies. It is difficult to deter- 



