OC'IOBKR 15. 1915 



843 



Goldc-nroa, Solidago. Photo by J. M. Buchanan, 

 Franklin, Tnnn. 



control. I returned with a heavy heart, 

 exchanjrod a few letters with Mr. Dougher- 

 ty, resulting in his giving me the prefer- 

 ence — a kindness that will be lasting in my 

 memory. I conducted it for tAventy-six 



Aster, Aster midtitionia. Photo by J. M. Buchanan, 

 Franklin, Tenn. 



years with some hardships, some hard work, 

 but, after all, a quarter of a century of real 

 pleasure. And I still think that the bee- 

 keepers are the best people on earth. 

 Indianapolis, Ind. 



THE FALL FLOW 



BY J. M, BUCHANAN 



The late summer and fall flow is an im- 

 portant factor in the next season's honey 

 crop: for strong colonies at the beginning 

 of the spring flow are dependent on suc- 

 cessful wintering, which, to a great extent, 

 is insured by having the hives full of good 

 stores and young bees at the beginning of 

 cold weather. 



Tf thc'ie is no fall flow to induce late 

 bi'ood-rearing, the colony goes into winter 

 with old bees which have not sufficient vital- 

 ity to survive the cold and confinement of 

 winter; and if stimulative feeding ever 

 pays, it is at such a time as this, for too 

 taucli importance can haidly be placed on 

 tho m.atter of late rearing of brood. 



Thei'e is quite a variety of plants through- 

 out the central states which furnish nectar 

 and pollen during the late summer and 

 autumn, and a short description of some 

 of the most important is here given. 



Polygonum persicaria, heartsease, smart- 

 weed; a prolific nectar-bearer in low lands 

 and moist soils. The honey is of good 

 flavor, and light amber in color; blooms in 

 August and September. 



Eiipatorium perfoliatum, boneset. On the 

 liigli lands of the central states this plant 

 i'lirnishes a good crop of surplus honey of 

 fair quality, light amber in color, and of 

 nil her high flavor. Tt gi'ows 2 to 4 feet 

 high and has wliite flowers in broad flat 

 heads, in Aiigusl. 



Solidago, goldenrod. There are more tlian 

 7.5 species of goldenrod found in the United 

 States. However, not all of these are of 

 value as honej^-plants. There are several 

 <rond ones which are widely distributed, and 

 which produce a fine quality of honey, 

 mostly of a golden color. They bloom dur- 

 ing September and October. Two species 

 are shown in the illustration. 



