i6 



the more important honey plants in several sections of the State. 

 It should be remembered, however, that the dates of nectar yielding 

 must necessarily vary from year to year and at cliiferent elevations 

 in the same territory; consequently the data here presented may be 

 slightly at variance with other observations. 



BERKSHIRE REGION. 

 (Furnished by E. H. Dewey, of Great Barrington, Mass.) 



Pussy willow, April 1 to 15. Pussy willow in sheltered places will bloom as 

 early as the 15th of March and be visited by bees for pollen. Whether they 

 get honey as early as that from this source I do not know. Just when pussy 

 willow begins to yield hohey I can not positively state, for bees work on it 

 very early, but I have seen them with tongues extended in search of honey 

 as early as the dates indicated. 



Soft maple, April 1 to 8. 



Hard maple, April 20 to May 5. 



Fruit bloom, May 1 to 25. 



Raspberry, June 5 to 30. 



Locust, June 5 to 15. 



Wild mustard. Wild mustard, I am told, appears about six weeks after culti- 

 vation. It is most frequently seen here from the middle of June to the 1st 

 of July. 



Clover, June 5 to July 25. 



White sweet clover, July 10 to August 25. 



Sumac, July 10 to 20. 



Basswood, July 1 to 15. 



Milkweed, July 5 to 20. 



Chestnut, July 10 to 15. 



Buckwheat, August 1 to 25. 



Smartweed, September 5 to frost. 



Brook sunflower {Bidens Ixevls), September 5 to — . It is fairly covered with 

 bees. I have seen three or four working on a single blossom. Grows on low 

 land and margins of water. 



Golden-rod, August 20 to frost. One variety of golden-rod appears here the 

 middle of August, but never secretes honey. 



Asters, September 1 to frost. 



Tag alders, September 1 to frost. In my Immediate locality tag alders are not 

 common, but can be found in swampy places a few miles from here. 



CENTRAL REGION. 



(Furnished by Dr. James B. Paige, Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass.) 



Fruit bloom, May 12 to 30. Cherry, plum, and peach are the earliest. Apple 



lasts the longest. 

 Clover, June 10 to August 1. 

 European linden, June 15 to July 1. 

 Raspberry, June 6 or 7 to about June 20, 



American linden. July 21 or 25 and lasts ten days to two weeks. 

 Buckwheat, latter part of July or August 1. Lasts nearly a month, according 



to quality of soil and location. 

 Golden-rod and asters, September 1, lasting until frost. 

 Smartweed, August 25 until frost. Does not appear to secrete after frost 



comes. 



