294 



THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 



A NE W BEE PLANT. 

 Pleuris}'' root (Asdepias tube- 

 rosa) is a, honej'-bearing plant in- 

 digenous to nearly all parts of the 

 United States, but its growth has 

 not been encouraged for the reason 

 that its value to the hone^'-producer 

 has not been generally known. 

 The plant is a perennial, the top 

 dies and rots, a new growth spring- 

 ing up each year. It is commonly 

 regarded as a harmless prairie 

 ■weed. The deep, red blossoms 

 hang in clusters. The plant is very 

 hardy, and of a rugged growth, 

 growing luxuriantly in all kinds of 

 soil. The honey is of the finest 

 quality, both as to color and flavor. 

 Mr. James Heddon, of Michigan, 

 speaking of the pleurisy root, sa3's : 

 '' If there is any plant to the grow- 

 ing" of which good land may be ex- 

 clusively devoted for the sole pur- 

 pose of honey production, I think 

 it is this. I would rather have one 

 acre of it than three of sweet 

 clover. It blossoms through July 

 and the first half of August, and 

 bees never desert pleurisy for 

 basswood or anything else. The 

 blossoms always look bright and 

 fresh, and yields honey continuous- 

 ly in wet and in dr}' weather. Bees 

 work on it in the rain, and during 

 the excessive drought of the past 

 season, it did not cease to secrete 

 nectar in abundance. 



The above was taken from the "Southern 

 Farmer" and was sent to JNli'. Ileildon lor Inr- 

 tlier int'orniation. Tlie following reply was 

 duly received. 



Dowagiac, Mich., Oct. 10, 1887. 

 Friend Alley : 



It was about five j^ears ago when 

 my attention was first called to the 

 pleurisy plant as a honey producer. 

 At that time specimens of that 

 plant were exceedingly scarce in 

 this locality. 



I noticed from year to year that 

 it not only increased very rapidly, 

 but that it was the best honey 

 yielding plant with which I am ac- 



quainted, white clover and bass- 

 wood not excepted. 



It is eminently adapted to light 

 sandy soil, doing splendidly upon 

 land too poor to produce ordinary 

 farm crops. 



Notwithstanding the great num- 

 ber of colonies I keep, 1 can hardly 

 find blossoms which do not contain 

 so much nectar that it is visible to 

 the naked eye. The honey is very 

 light colored and of excellent 

 flavor. 



It has now become so plentiful 

 here that we have no honey dearth 

 between basswood and fall flowers, 

 neither drought nor continued rains 

 prevent its secreting copiousl3^ 



It is not obnoxious as a weed, 

 yet very tenacious as a plant, and 

 above every thing else, perennial. 

 It is a favorite of waste places and 

 only has to be started in a locality, 

 to become soon of great value to 

 neighboring beekeepers. It re- 

 quires no coaxing. In my opinion 

 it is the best honey plant known to 

 beekeepers. James Heddon. 



[Now if some one who can I'nrnish tlie de- 

 sired infornniLion regarding the cultivation of 

 pleurisy will tell llie readers of the Ari how to 

 grow tlie plant, when the seed should be sown 

 or roots planted, and where either can be ob- 

 tained, they will do our subscribers a great 

 lavor. Mr. Heddon lelt out of his reply this 

 most important part of tlie question. 



If this new liouey producing plant is all Mr. 

 Heddon claims, beekeepers shoiil<l cultivate 

 it. A plant from which bees can gather honey 

 " in wet weatlier " was much desired the past 

 seasou.J 



HONEY-CAKK. 



Work together equal weights of 

 houey and tiour ; acid spice to taste, 

 and the right propoitiou of bakiug 

 Ijowder. Keep this dough iu the cellar, 

 and bake it as you need it, iu a very 

 slow oven. The cakes will be all the 

 better if the dough has stood lor a long 

 time. Honej'-cakes ate very healthful 

 aud digestible, and their use is to be 

 recoiumciuled to persons suffering from 

 colds or sore throat. 



Mr. lioot, would it not be a good 

 idea to iuduce all the housekeepers who 

 read "Gi.kanjngs," to send you items 

 about some of the ways in which honey 

 is used iu their family? — Gleanings. 

 Mus. E. J. Baxier. 



Nanvoo, 111. 



