10 BULLETIN 489, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



cussed. No doubt such an organization easily could be effected. The 

 length of North Carolina and the slowness of travel from east to west 

 would make it desirable to have some agreement whereby the meetings 

 could alternate between the eastern and western parts of the State. 



ATTITUDE OF BEEKEEPERS TOWARD IMPROVED METHODS. 



One of the hopeful signs, if not the most hopeful one, is the atti- 

 tude of the beekeepers toward improved apparatus and methods. 

 There is not the self-satisfied attitude which is often met elsewhere 

 and which is so impossible to overcome. There was shown an 

 eagerness to learn and to make use of the information in cases where 

 certain simple manipulations have been explained. 



FOLKLORE. 



Superstitions regarding bees which formerly were common, such 

 as ringing bells or beating pans to cause a swarm to settle, " telling 

 the bees" when their owner dies so they will not also die, and a 

 belief that selling bees brings bad luck, were encountered, as well as 

 some which were not so common. Some beekeepers will not count 

 the hives for fear of ill luck. It is said by the superstitious that on 

 Washington's birthday all the hives must be slightly moved to ward 

 off ill luck. Bees are " robbed " by killing the bees at the time of 

 the full moon in June, as it is believed there is then little " beebread " 

 in the hive. These superstitions will, of course, disappear with 

 better beekeeping. 



HONEY PLANTS. 



Sherman already has listed the main honey sources, although 

 probably gallberry should have been given more prominence for 

 the eastern part of the State bordering on the swamps and streams. 



From the standpoint of nectar-producing flora and consequent 

 manipulations the State may be divided into three parts — western, 

 central, and eastern— without definite boundary lines. The leading 

 honey plants in these three sections are sourwood, clovers, and gall- 

 berry, respectively. Tulip poplar, or " poplar," is purposely omitted, 

 for, although it is abundant and is a good nectar producer, honeys 

 from the sources mentioned above are superior and bring a higher 

 price than does that from tulip poplar. It is believed that the bee- 

 keeper will do well so to manipulate his colonies that they will con- 

 sume the honey from this source in breeding and thus attain greater 

 strength for gathering the more desirable later honeys. 



All through the mountainous and upper Piedmont sections of the 

 State sourwood flourishes and is still abundant enough, in spite of 

 cutting, to be the leading surplus honey plant. Going eastward, be- 

 cause of the increased clearing; of land for agricultural operations 



