292 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



BEE-PASTURAGE OVER-STOCKING. 



EVERT bee-keeper should carefully acquaint himself 

 with the honey-resources of his own neighborhood. My 

 limits will allow me to mention only some of the most 

 important plants from which bees draw their supplies. 

 Since Dzierzon's discovery of the use which may be made 

 of rye flour, early blossoms, producing pollen only, are 

 not so important. 



All the varieties of willow abound in both bee-bread 

 and honey, and their early blossoming gives them a 

 special value : 



" First the gray willow's glossy pearls they steal, 

 Or rob the hazel of its golden meal, 

 While the gay crocus and the violet blue, 

 Yield to their flexile trunks ambrosial dew." EVANS. 



The sugar-maple (Acer saccharinus) yields a large, 

 supply of delicious honey, and its blossoms, hanging in 

 graceful fringes, will be alive with bees. 



Of the fruit trees, the apricot, peach, plum, cherry, and 

 pear, are great favorites; but none furnishes so much 

 honey as the apple. 



The dandelion, whose blossoms furnish pollen and 

 honey, when the yield from the fruit trees is nearly over, 

 is worthy of a high rank among honey-producing plants. 



The tulip tree (Liriodendrori), often called "poplar" 

 and " white wood," is one of the greatest honey-producing 

 trees in the world. As its blossoms expand in succession, 

 new swarms will sometimes fill their hives from this 



