102 SOURCES OF HONEY. 



beautiful honey, clear as a crystal and white as snow. 

 The sugar maple produces honey of excellent qual- 

 ity, and where forests of this tree abound, large 

 quantities of hdney are stored, while it is in blos- 

 som in early spring.* Locust, whitewood, mignon- 

 ette, golden rod, sumach, etc., all produce honey. 

 When we take into consideration the fact that the 

 bee will go seven miles or more to collect his 

 sweets, it is easy to understand that a certain num- 

 ber of swarms will succeed in almost any locality, 

 even without feeding. To make this still moi'e 

 clear, we have only to take into account the vast 

 number of honey yielding flowers, trees, plants, 

 shrubs, etc., within a circle of fourteen miles in di- 

 ameter, the hives occupying the centre, and the 

 bees flying to collect honey seven miles in every 

 direction from the hive. Those who have not 

 tested the matter, will be likely to dispute the state- 

 ment, that a bee will go seven miles to gather 

 honey. But on this point I am able to offer aniple 

 proof, to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, the 

 tact that the Italian bee will go that distance. The 

 proof I offer is this : The first Italian bees 

 brought into the New England States, I had the 

 honor of receiving. The Italian bees being entirely 

 distinct from the native or black bees in color 



*Climate and soil are so variable, it is impoBsible to give the sources 

 of honey so as to apply minutely to every locality. I shall strive to 

 designate the principal sources. The hee keeper will very soon learn 

 from experience and observation, what are the principal sources of 

 honey in that particular locality. Many different flowers, trees and 

 shrubs are found in one section yielding honey profusely which do not 

 exist in another. 



