58 SOURCES OF NECTAR 



The California apiarists of some sections report valuable 

 honej crops from the lima beans which are raised in large 

 acreage in that State. 



The Clovers. — In the markets of the world, honey from this 

 family of plants stands supreme, both in quantity and quality. 

 The combs are capped white, so that the product is of fine 

 appearance and the quality is of the best. Honey from either 

 white, alsike, sweet or other clover, or from alfalfa, is sure of 

 a market at a fair price in almost any season. When the markets 

 are glutted, the clover honeys are among the first to move, so 

 that the apiarist seldom need fear being unable to dispose of his 

 product. While there are seasons of short secretion, the clovers 

 are, perhaps, as nearly sure to yield as any plants of wide 

 distribution. 



White Clover (Trifolium repens). — The most valuable honey 

 plant in America. It ranges from Canada to the Gulf, and from 

 the Atlantic west to N^ebraska and Texas. Reaches its greatest 

 value as a honey producer in the northern States. Perennial, 

 with somewhat creeping stems. A fine pasture plant, common 

 along roadsides and in pastures everywhere. 



Alsike Clover {T. hybridum). — Alsike, or Swedish clover, 

 resembles white clover in some respects, although much larger 

 and better suited for culture as a forage crop. ■ It yields honey 

 freely of about the same quality as white clover. This plant suc- 

 ceeds on land where red clover will not do well, and when sown 

 with a mixture of other grasses makes a very good meadow. 

 When sown with timothy and red clover the resulting hay crop is 

 much heavier than where timothy and red clover are sown alone. 



Red Clover (T. Pratense). — Red clover would be a magnifi- 

 cent honey plant if the bees were only able to reach the nectar. 

 The corolla tubes are too long for the length of the honey-bee's 

 tongue. Occasionally a case is reported when a crop is supposed 

 to be gathered from this source. If so, conditions must either 

 serve greatly to reduce the length of the corolla tubes, or the 

 nectar must be so abundant as to fill the tubes to a height within 



