BEES AND PLANTS 199 



wood {Oxydendrum arhoreum) of the South, the 

 guajilla of Texas, the cabbage palmetto of Florida, 

 and the eucalyptus of California. 



The flowers of sumac often yield much nectar 

 and are sedulously worked by the bees. This 

 picturesque shrub is not properly appreciated because 

 it is so common. Its foliage is beautiful in the 

 summer and is brilliant in the fall. Its blossoms, 

 as well as its fruit, conduce to make it an interesting 

 and ornamental shrub for planting. 



HONEY PLANTS WHICH YIELD OTHER VALUABLE 

 CROPS 



To raise plants solely for the sake of the honey 

 they produce has not proved a financial success so far 

 in America. Mr. Root estimates that it would 

 require 500 acres covered with plants blooming in 

 succession to keep 100 colonies of bees busy; and, 

 at present, most land here is worth too much to be 

 put to such use. It is doubtful if artificial pasturage 

 will ever prove a paying investment in agricultural 

 sections. 



However, many apiarists devote some land to 

 honey-gardens, and such a garden may be a beau- 

 tiful and interesting place, for many of the honey- 

 plants are ornamental. Also, many apiarists have 

 introduced certain honey-weeds on waste land in 

 the vicinity of their apiaries with excellent results. 



Fortunately, many plants very valuable to the 

 agriculturist and horticulturist are the best honey- 

 producers; and if a farmer has only twenty colonies 



