THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



38 



©orrcspoudewte* 



For the American Bee Journal. 

 Honey-Producing Plants. 



As we are constantly receiving letters 

 from various sections of the country ask- 

 ing our opinion of the comparative merits 

 of the different honey-producing plants; 

 tJieir value as a field crop, best mode of 

 culture, etc., we desire to answer such 

 questions as may be of interest to the 

 general reader through the columns of 

 The American Bee Journal. 



We will first mention those which are 

 a valuable crop, aside from the honey 

 which they produce: 



Buckwheat (jiolygonum fagopyruvi) suc- 

 ceeds best on a dry, rich, sandy loam: it 

 is a valuable crop for family use, farm 

 stock, poultry, etc., and will rapidly en- 

 rich the soil, if deepl}^ plowed under 

 while in full bloom. Its yield of honey 

 while in bloom, which is of quite short 

 duration, in a favorable season, compares 

 well with any plant with which we are 

 acquainted, but it is of very inferior 

 quality both in taste and color. The seed 

 should be sown in June, broadcast, using 

 3 to 5 pecks per acre. 



The pure silver Imll buckwheat is a 

 very productive and quite early sort; 

 but we have not tested it sufficiently to 

 justify us in speaking of its honey-pro- 

 ducing qualities. 



Chinese mustard (Sinapsis Chinensis) is 

 about as well adapted to the wants of the 

 bee-keeping farmer as any plant can well 

 be. It is well adapted to most soils, and 

 does not seem to be affected by atmos- 

 pheric changes. Prof. J. P. Kirtland says 

 of it in " Gleanings" (Vol. III., page 18) : 

 "In my belief the true Chinese mustard 

 holds out the best prospects for this pur- 

 pose (profitable cultivation, C. F. S.) of 

 any plant at present known. * * * It 

 produces more than double the quantity 

 of flowers and seed than either the black 

 or white mustard; the species usually 

 cultivated in this State, the last named is 

 too frequently sent out from our seed 

 stores as the Chinese. If patches of 

 ground be sown at suitable intervals of 

 time from early spring till near the close 

 of summer, our bees will be constantly 

 occupied in collecting honey during 

 those periods when they are usually idle 

 for the want of such supplies as will be 

 thus furnished. The seed of this kind is 

 peculiarly adapted for grinding into the 

 popular condiment, always commands a 

 ready sale and good price, and will in- 

 sure sufficient income to repay for its 

 cultivation." 



It is highly prized, when young, as a 

 salad, or as greens; the seed is also eaten 

 by poultry. The honey which it pro- 



duces is of a very beautiful light yellow 

 color, is of fine flavor, and always com- 

 mands the highest market price. It may 

 be sown very early in the spring in shal- 

 low drills wide enough for tlie cultivator, 

 using six to ten pounds per acre ; or broad- 

 cast, using 15 to 25 fts. per acre. For 

 seed it should not be sown later than the 

 1st of July. When ripe it does not shell 

 out by the wind, and may be harvested at 

 leisure. 



Common mustard (Sinapis Nigra), is a 

 valuable bee-plant, cultivated to some ex- 

 tent for its seed ; but it is a bad weed. 



Rape (Brassica Napua Oleifera. Fr. Colza. 

 Ger. Raps) is an important plant both as a 

 bee-plant and field crop; and is so well 

 known that no description from us is 

 needed. 



Sunflower {Helianthus) has deservedly 

 received much attention during the past 

 few years, for indeed it is as useful a crop 

 as a farmer can raise; the leaves produc- 

 ing an enormous quantity of nutritious 

 forage for stock ; and the seeds are eagerly 

 devoured by all kinds of poultry, hogs, 

 etc. They also have a real commer- 

 cial value, being used in the manufac- 

 ture of vegetable oil. It yields a large 

 amount of beautiful yellow honej'. 



Alsike clover {TrifoUum hybridum) and 

 white clover (T. repens) have each been so 

 often described, that we will not occupy 

 your valuable space to reiterate what is 

 already well known. 



Lucerne or French c]nveT (Medieago sal- 

 iva) is one of the best kinds for sandy soil 

 — it is notable for its long tap roots, 

 which penetrate the soil to a great depth, 

 rendering it capable of withstanding a 

 severe drought, and causing a prodigous 

 growth of fine food for stock, and it is one 

 of the most productive forage plants that 

 can be grown on the above kind of soil, 

 and it is suitable for soiling. Sow seed in 

 the spring using about 8 lbs. per acre. As 

 a bee-plant it is nearly equal to Alsike 

 clover. 



Italian or scarlet treefoil (T. incamatum) 

 introduced from Italy, where it is exten- 

 sively grown; also in France it is a prof- 

 itable crop. Its flowers are produced in 

 long heads of bright scarlet and are 

 sought for by the bees from morning until 

 nighi. We recommend this variety, for 

 trial to our brother bee-keepers. For a 

 crop it should be sown the same as Alsike 

 clover, for soiling during summer; using 

 from 6 to 10 lbs. per acre. 



Yellow treefoil clover (Medieago Lupu- 

 lina) is very prolific and perfectly hard}'; 

 it grows very rank and produces honey 

 during our severest droughts. Sow in 

 spring 7 lbs. per acre. 



Esparcette or sainfoin {Hedysarum Onob- 

 rycliis). This plant is an acquisition alike 

 to the stock raiser and bee-keeper, and 

 though usually classed with the clovers, 

 it is a leguminous plant Its roots, which 



