180 



THE AMEBIC AI^ APICULTURIST. 



engaged in working in grain fields, so much 

 so that tlieir clotlies seemed saturated 

 with a syrup of white clover wliich is abun- 

 dant in almost every section of the United 

 States. Wherever it abounds the bee finds 

 a rich harvest; it yields large quantities 

 of pure white honey and unexcelled by 

 any other in flavor. The seasou of white 

 clover usually lasts a month ; in favorable 

 seasons, six weeks or longer. Blooming at 

 a season of the year when the weather is 

 generally dry and hot, aff"ording a field of 

 forage when there is nothing else to gather 

 from, it ought to and could be more ex- 

 tensively enlarged. 



Indian hemp (Apocynum cannahinin) is a 

 plant that affords a strong flow of nectar 

 and bees seem to appreciate its delicate 

 flower 1)y a continual hum over it. Cat- 

 nip (Cataria) is a profuse flowering, aro- 

 matic plant and continues in bloom for a 

 month or more; it produces an abundant 

 supply of highly flavored honey and blooms 

 just at the close of white clover and is 

 becoming very abundant in southern 

 Pennsylvania. Wild cotton or milkweed 

 (^Apocynum androscenifolium) is another 

 plant that produces a large quantity of 

 honey; it generally is found growing in 

 low lands and along mountain sides where 

 it is damp and frequently along roadsides ; 

 wherever it grows plentifully the bee finds 

 a good source from which to recruit its 

 store of sweets. 



We have in this section another plant 

 that exceeds anytliing for a long continu- 

 ous honey flow. The botanical name I 

 think is Leonanis cardica, but as to that 

 being the proper name there is doubt. It 

 grows about two or three feet high, send- 

 ing out lateral branches almost from its 

 base. These branches or stems are en- 

 circled with a pinkish-colored flower, cov- 

 ered with a down. The flowers nearest 

 tlie liase or main stock are one and a half 

 to two inches apart, becoming closer to- 

 gether as they near the end of the stem 

 and are finally one against the other. The 

 wonderful peculiarity about tiiis plant is 

 the continual ripening and forming of new 

 flowers at the same time. Commencing 

 about the first of June to blossom, near 

 the base and on the branches near the 

 main stem and as the branch grows in 

 length it adds on, as it seems, a new flower 

 every day ami continucis to bloom in pro- 

 fusion until the first and middle of August. 

 Many of the branches put forth flowers 

 until the branch is two feet long; bees 

 seem to work on it in preference to white 

 clover. They fairly swarm over it from 

 early morn uiitil late in the evening which 

 is the best evidence that it yields nectar 

 very rapidly. It is not what could be 

 termed a noxious plant, it is easily eradi- 



cated, but seeds itself year after year; it 

 produces a crystal-like honey with a pleas- 

 ant flavor. This plant, with the other 

 before mentioned plants, could be prolita- 

 bly sown in waste places and rough hill- 

 sides. If any plant would pay cultivation, 

 especially for honey, this plant would; 

 although my opinion, like that of many 

 observing apiarists, is that it does not 

 pay to cultivnte any plant or cereal for the 

 honey it produces alone, but where a crop 

 can be grown that will afford good bee 

 forage and a crop of grain or fruit be- 

 sides, such we think is profitable to those 

 that are interested in bees and honey. 



Thus, we have the raspberry that fur- 

 nishes a most delicious honey ; in flavor 

 it has no equal. The sides of roads and 

 along many of our fences this slirub could 

 be profltnbly grown, and rocky and waste 

 spots counted worthless could be made as 

 vahnible as garden spots. As there is no 

 richer fruit of the berry kind, always com- 

 manding a high price in the market and a 

 luxury to every table, and as wlien in blos- 

 som bees delight to sip its dainty nectar, 

 there is no reason wliy it should not be 

 largely cultivated. 



Buckwheat aflbrds a honey harvest 

 when all other honey blossoms have ap- 

 peared in their season and vanished away. 

 This cereal can be sown at diflerent dates 

 affording a successive honey resource, 

 until the frosts of autumn assert its 

 sway. A peculiarity of its blossom is, 

 that bees can only gather from it not later 

 than the middle of the day, unless the 

 weather is damp and no sunshine. Some 

 seasons it yields an immense quantity of 

 honey, other seasons it yields but very 

 little ; its lioney is a darkish color, but its 

 peculiar and very rich flavor makes it a 

 favorite of very many persons who are 

 not won by appearance alone ; not always 

 is the lightest colored honej' the best. 

 Many experienced beemen claim that 

 buckwheat honey is the best on which to 

 winter bees. This is my experience. 

 Alongthebaseofthe Alleghany mountains, 

 in this country, I learn from men who 

 have paid attention to bees that thc.v ex- 

 perience very little trouble in wintering 

 their bees. In that same locality, there is 

 always an extensive crop of buckwheat 

 sown. 



I have briefly sketched the honey re- 

 sources, but suflicient to show that the 

 first recjuisite in beekeeping could be 

 greatly improved, and one of no little im- 

 portance; and if as nnich attention was 

 paid to it as there is devoted to the hive, 

 with all its late afiixes, etc., the success 

 would be greatly improved. 



Loyshurg, Pa. 



