74 SOURCES OF NECTAR 



These plants are an important source of fall honey. 



Heartsease {Polygonum). — There are several species of 

 plants belonging to this family (Fig. 38) that are variously 

 known as smartweed, knotweed, heartsease, lady's thumb, water 

 pepper, doorweed, etc. Polygonum persicaria or lady's thumb 

 is perhaps the best honey producer of them all. There are 

 fifty or more species in the United States and Canada, a number 

 of which produce some honey. 



This plant is particularly valuable in wet seasons, when an 

 excess of moisture prevents the usual cultivation of many fields, 

 or when, because of abundant water supply, these plants spring 

 up in corn fields and grain fields after cultivation has ceased. 

 At such times, large quantities of honey are sometimes secured 

 from this source. 



While the plants range over a wide area, they are particularly 

 valuable as honey producers in the States of Iowa, Illinois and 

 eastern Kansas and Nebraska. 



The period of bloom lasts from August until frost and the 

 honey varies greatly in color and quality. Much of it is a light 

 amber, of fair quality, while some is very dark and of inferior 

 quality. 



Horsemint (Monarda). — Horsemint is most frequently re- 

 ported as a valuable honey plant from Texas and nearby States. 

 In this section very large yields are occasionally reported from 

 this source. There are several species (Fig. 39) ranging from 

 Quebec and ]^ew England, west to Dakota, and south to Georgia 

 and Texas. 



The corolla tubes are very deep, and it would hardly be 

 expected that the bees could reach the nectar. Three species 

 are reported as yielding freely in Texas, M. clinopodoides accord- 

 ing to Scholl being one of the best honey plants. M. fistulosa, 

 commonly called wild bergamot, is common in many of the 

 States, from New England to the Missouri River and south to 

 Florida and Texas. While at times this plant does not seem 



