AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 721 



from it is amber, with a slight blackish shade. It has a peculiar, slightly-acid taste, 

 characteristic of the Southern honeys. It' is gathered, I think, chiefly from the 

 hickories. Occasionally we have some at other times of ihe year. Occasionally, 

 also, we have instead of honey-dew, some kind of dark, nauseating "bug-juice." 

 While there is honey-dew, all other sources of nectar are neglected by the bees, ex- 

 cept perhaps the sourwood ; but the honey-dew has generally disappeared when the 

 sourwoods disappear. 



About the middle of May the tulip trees blossom. These are the heaviest 

 yielders of nectar we have. Unfortunately they have been nearly all cut for lum- 

 ber, and as they do not grow from the stumps, and do not blossom until quite large, 

 we get little from them. In fact, I do not know of more than half a dozen trees 

 within reach of my home apiary. The other apiary is better placed, being only IJ^ 

 miles from a tract of wood belonging to the county ; the lumber of which has not 

 been cut for several years. There are so few linden trees here that they are en- 

 tirely out of consideration. 



In June, we have the persimmon-trees and the wild grapes, both good yielders, 

 but there is not enough of them to furnish much surplus. 



About June 20, the sourwoods begin to blossom, lasting until the middle of 

 July, and sometimes later. This is our surest yield, and also our best, or rather 

 next best, to honey-dew, when there is honey-dew at all. The sourwood honey is 

 perfectly limpid and thick, and unsurpassed in taste, having a delicious aromatic 

 flavor, just strong enough to be good, without any acid or after-taste at all. It is 

 very seldom obtained pure, nearly always mixed with honey-dew or persimmon. As 

 to taste, the persimmon honey is not quite as good, though similar, and is amber 

 instead of white. Sourwood honey never candies — at least it has that reputation. 



After that, nothing in dry seasons, which is usually the case ; or if it rains 

 enough from minor sources to keep up brood-rearing until the fall flow. But I often 

 have to feed during the latter part of August and the beginning of September. 



With the middle of September begins the fall flow, chiefly from golden-rods and 

 asters, and also to some extent from some other plants, all able to withstand consid- 

 erable drouth. But sometimes it is too dry even for them, or the frosts come too 

 early and cut off the flow. Only once in the last seven or eight years some surplus 

 was obtained from fall blossoms, while feeding for winter has to be done, more or 

 less, at least one year out of two. 



The question has been often raised whether the golden-rods yield honey or not. 

 Well, here, bees will work on golden-rod until the asters are open. In fact, bees 

 will work on the blossoms that furnish the most nectar, to the exclusion of all others. 



I have frequently to answer inquiries about the resources of East Tennessee in 

 regard to bee-keeping ; this is intended as an answer to all. It will apply to all the 

 East Tennessee valley, at least in the main points. I must acknowledge, though, 

 that the neighborhood of Knoxville, is one of the poorest in the valley. Other loca- 

 tions will be found that are better than this, either because the soil is better, or 

 because the valuable kinds of trees have not yet been cut down so close. On the 

 other hand, immense quantities of honey could be obtained in the mountains, where 

 plenty of linden, tulip trees, sourwoods and wild flowers are yet to be found. But 

 one who would go there, must be willing to put up with lack of good society, good 

 means of communication, and other refinements of civilized life. 



The most interesting part of the question is. How much do your bees yield? 

 Well, "I don't know." I count an average yield in a good season, one super full 

 (28 sections), or nearly full, and something done in the second super, from the 

 parent colony ; and about half that amount from the swarm — second swarms not 

 allowed. If swarming is not restricted, no surplus need be expected. Occasionally 



