230 



American l^ee Journal 



July, 1914. 



for a number of uses as timber. The 

 reason I say thinly planted is because 

 the thickly planted groves do not 

 bloom freely. The eucalyptus when 

 cut down send up numerous sprouts 

 from the root which grow rapidly, and 

 are old enough to bloom again in a 

 few years. All are useful, and many 

 species very ornamental. 



This tree is one of the many valua- 

 ble things which we have received 

 from Australia. It was first brought 

 to California before 18'i6, and there are 

 now many old groves in the State. The 

 timber is hard wood. There is an oil 

 extracted from the leaves and twigs, 

 which is used quite extensively as a 

 medicine. 



The eucalyptus, that is most species, 

 is strongly drouth resistant. Of course 

 the little seedlings must be given a 

 proper start. Where it is not prac- 

 ticed to give them water the first sum- 

 mer, they should be set out early in the 

 winter, after the first rains, and shel- 

 tered in some way from the dry winds 

 until well started. Being deep-rooted 

 trees instead of shallow-rooted shrubs 

 as our native honey plants, theeucalyp- 

 tus are able to reach moisture in the 

 soil, which enables them to bloom and 

 secrete nectar even during seasons of 

 drouth. I have seen the bees like a 

 swarm on the bloom of the "sugar 

 gum," £. corynoca/yx, in August and 

 September of a dry year. An Austra- 

 lian beekeeper who once visited me 

 said, " The yellow hoy. {E. melliodora) 

 is our main source of honey supply in 

 my part of Australia Your shallow- 

 rooted Californian plants would pro- 

 duce no nectar in that climate." I asked 

 him about the quality of the honey, and 

 he said it was good. Personally, I can- 

 not give information as to the quality, 

 as I have not as yet any trees but the 

 autumn and winter bloomers, but have 

 no doubt he was correct. 



The chief value here in the eucalyp- 

 tus honey would be to supply the bees 

 at times when our native plants failed, 

 for when there is a good flow of sage 

 nectar, for instance, they leave all else 

 for that. But for dry years and a 

 source of fall and early winter supply, 

 the eucalyptus would certainly be a 

 boon to us if we had enough of them. 

 They are profuse bloomers, and as far 

 as I have observed always secrete an 

 abundance of nectar. 



The A. melliodora, or yellow box, as 

 it is usually called in Australia, has a 

 profusion of honey-scented blossoms 

 which gives it its specific name. It will 

 grow in a variety of soil conditions, 

 and is a valuable tree. Professor Mc- 

 Clatchie, horticulturist of the Arizona 

 Experiment Station, spoke of it in the 

 highest terms for this purpose. Ing- 

 ham, of the Experiment Station at 

 Santa Monica, Calif., says all the spe- 

 cies have value as honey producers, 

 and that from the large number of spe- 

 cies now in the State, species can be 

 selected so there are some in bloom 

 during the entire year, if so desired, so 

 if the natural pasture is good for only 

 a limited time the dearth could be so 

 filled in that there would always be 

 something for the bees to work upon. 



There are about 150 species of eu- 

 calyptus in their native home, of which 

 we have adopted about 75, either as 

 permanent citizens or on trial at our 



Purple Sage. 



California Sumac. 



stations. The Forestry Station Bulle- 

 tin gives a list which would be suitable 

 for bee forage and their time of 

 blooming. There are several that bloom 

 for a period of several months. The 

 A. melliodoya is listed as blooming 

 from January to June. They mention 

 the fact that the bees seem to have a 

 preference for the white or greenish- 

 white llowers. Most of the eucalyptus 

 have white flowers, though there are 

 several species with colored blossoms 

 which are very beautiful. I have a sin- 

 gle tree of leucoxylon-rosea with beau- 

 tiful rose-colored flowers which is a 

 great favorite with the bees. It blooms 

 from late autumn, varying with the 

 early or late rainfall. It is a very or- 



namental tree, and very hardy as to 

 frost and drouth. 



Weather Cool, But Most Colonies Strong 



The weather continues cool and 

 cloudy. Bees are not able to be out 

 full time. The nights are too cold for 

 a good nectar flow. Black sage is 

 nearly out. It has yielded us some 

 honey, but not a half crop in sight yet. 

 White sage is coming in, but we are at 

 a stand-still just now on account of the 

 weather. Some honey has been ex- 

 tracted from most all of our apiaries, 

 but we have had to quit until there 

 come some bright days. Most colo- 

 nies are strong. 



