THE SOUTH 49 



available. Coming so soon after the bees are first abroad after 

 the long- winter, the queens are stimulated to great activity and 

 brood rearing begins in earnest. As a result, the hives are soon 

 full of young bees, so that the colonies should be in the very best 

 condition for the clover harvest. 



Alfalfa Region. — The irrigated sections of the arid West may 

 be classed as the alfalfa region. While much honey from other 

 sources comes to market from west of the ^lissouri River, alfalfa 

 is the main source of dependence. Sweet clover is rapidly ex- 

 tending its range in the same territory, so that it is also a very 

 important source of nectar. The alfalfa plant seems to be at its 

 best in the dry atmosphere of Colorado and surrounding States. 

 Given plenty of water by irrigation, the results both in hay and 

 in nectar are remarkable. Alfalfa may be said to be "king" in 

 the Eocky Mountain States, all the way from Canada to the 

 ]\rexican border. 



From California we hear much of sage, orange, and beans as 

 additional sources of honey production. Very little orange honey 

 reaches the eastern markets, so that it can hardly be considered 

 in speaking of the region as a whole. Sage, in years past, has 

 been the source of large quantities of honey shipped east. Of 

 late years, alfalfa, even in California as in other western States, 

 is coming to be a very dependable source of supply. 



The South. — In Texas are to be found many of the plants 

 common to the eastern States, as well as some that are important 

 in the arid West. In the irrigated sections of Texas alfalfa is 

 an important honey plant. Here are also a number whose names 

 are unfamiliar elsewhere, including huajilla, mesquit, and cats- 

 claw. 



In the southeastern section, beginning with the Carolinas, 

 we still find the clovers and other plants common to the northern 

 States mentioned as important in honey production. In addition, 

 there are some peculiar to the South which rank even higher in 

 the production of honey. Among the most important may be 

 mentioned the gallberry and sourwood. 

 4 



