GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



April, 1919 



f^!Pi^^S 



FROM THE^FIEIDOFEXPERIE 



iTA,. 



BIG BEEKEEPING POSSIBILITIES 



In the Extensive Region of the Upper Peninsula of 

 Michigan 



As a result of many inquiries received 

 rluriiig the past two years I submit the fol- 

 lowing information which I gained thru a 

 personal visit to the Upper Peninsula of 

 Michigan during the summer of 1918. 



Alsike clover grows in great abundance 

 in all parts, whether wooded or cleared, ex- 

 cepting on the sand plains and some of the 

 very rocky hills. Any one who has never 

 seen alsike growing in Cloverland would 

 hardly believe a statement of the prolific- 

 ness and abundance of this very valuable 

 honey jilant. This is by far the most valua- 

 ble source of nectar in Upper Michigan. 

 Firew^eed, or epilobium, grows in profusion 

 in the districts where fire has burned off 

 the other herbage wdthin one or two years. 

 This plant furnishes a heavy secretion which 

 makes one of the finest of honeys, but it is 

 not dependable. It becomes crow^ded out 

 wdthin a few years after a fire has covered 

 the territory. Bed raspberry grows in abun- 

 dance on the uncultivated hardwood land. 

 This plant furnishes a quite dependable 

 source of nectar and is only second in im- 

 portance to alsike clover. Basswood has 

 been a common tre«, but in most sections 



it has been lumbered off until it is of small 

 relative importance. There are, however, 

 some locations where basswood forms one of 

 the chief sources of nectar. It is not de- 

 pendable from year to year, but furnishes 

 a very heavy flow occasionally. Goldenrod 

 grows principally on the heavy land, but is 

 also found to a certain extent along the 

 edges of the sand plains. In seasons when 

 the temi^erature and moisture are favorable 

 it is an important source of fall honey. Aster 

 is scattered over most of the territory and, 

 true to its characteristics in the North, 

 yields a very late flow which is not usually 

 ripened and which granulates in the comb. 

 Other minor sources of nectar are wild cher- 

 ry, dandelion, boneset, sweet clover, Can- 

 ada thistle, hard and soft maples. Those 

 plants which grow in the sun naturally yield 

 nectar first, while those which grow in the 

 shade furnish a later flow. The main honey 

 flow begins about the last week in June and 

 continues thru the blooming of red rasp- 

 berry, alsike, and fireweed. This usually 

 covers a period of about six weeks. 



One peculiarity of the Upper Peninsula 

 which appeals to most beekeepers is the ab- 

 sence of drought. The records of the wea- 

 ther bureau for years back show that rain 

 falls with surprising consistency during the 

 summer months. The daytime temperature 

 during the period of nectar secretion is usu- 



A typical apiary in tlu' NovtliL'Ui Pyniiisula of Michigan, localcd at Iron Mountain, Dickinson County. 



