392 



Beekeeping 



Swedish clover ; see Alsike Clover. 



Sweet clover, Melilotus alba (Fig. 159), M. officinalis, M. indica. 

 Biennial herbs (M. indica, annual), 3-10 feet. Flowers white 

 in M. alba and yellow in other two species, in slender racemes. 



June-September, or even 

 later, usually in July. 

 Honey slightly green in color, 

 flavor described as like cin- 

 namon. Throughout United 

 States, usually in waste 

 places but becoming more 

 common as a forage plant. 

 Secretes nectar wherever 

 grown. Native of old world. 

 In some sections (Kentucky, 

 Utah) this plant is valued 

 as a soil renovator (see 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 485, 

 U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture). White sweet clo- 

 ver, M. alba (Fig. 159), is the 

 most common species. Seed 

 is now offered for sale annu- 

 ally in the bee journals. It 

 has been sown extensively 

 by beekeepers in waste places 

 and along embankments. 

 Called also Bokhara clover 

 and has numerous other common names. Twenty species, all 

 native of old world. M. indica more abundant in far west. 

 Sweet-gale, bayberry, Myrica spp. Wind pollinated, some pollen. 

 Sweet gum, Liquidambar Styraciflua. A source of abundant prop- 

 olis. 



Sweet pepper bush, Clethra alnifolia. Shrub, 3-10 feet. Honey 

 light amber, good body. In swampy woods, Maine to Florida, 

 especially near coast, July-August. Of special value in New 

 England and New Jersey. 



Tartarian honeysuckle, Lonicera tatarica. Nectar, important 

 locally, other species valuable in which flowers are not too long 

 for bees to reach. Bumble-bees sometimes pierce tubes of 

 the honeysuckle, L. Periclymenum, to obtain nectar, after 

 which honeybees work on the pierced flowers. 



Thistle, Carduus spp. Considerable nectar. 



Thistle family, Composite; see Iron-weed, Boneset, Goldenrod, 



FIG. 159. Sweet clover. 



