60 SOURCES OF NECTAR 
head of the list of honey plants of the world, if the present rate 
of spreading continues. Large quantities of honey from this 
source are now reaching the markets from Colorado, Idaho, and 
other western States. 
In Towa one farmer, Frank Coverdale at Delmar, had nearly 
200 acres of this crop on his farm. Sweet clover was the princi- 
pal crop grown, and everything was planned to utilize it to the 
best advantage. Cattle, hogs and other stock were kept to con- 
sume the hay. Bees also were kept to gather as much of the 
nectar as possible. In 1913 more than a carload of fine comb 
honey was produced from the 300 colonies of bees on the Cover- 
dale farm. 
Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)—The yellow 
variety of sweet clover is not nearly so widely spread as the white, 
and is not of so much value as forage. The honey yield, however, 
is good, and it is valuable as a honey-producing plant. 
Llfalfa (Medicago sativra).—Alfalfa, or lucerne, is coming 
to be widely cultivated as a forage plant. It does not thrive 
to any extent except under cultivation. It is at its best in the 
irrigated regions of the West, where it is grown in very large 
acreage for hay and for seed. Under western conditions, it is a 
very valuable forage plant, yielding large quantities of fine honey. 
It seems to be of little value for bee pasturage in moist regions 
of the eastern States. Although blooming freely, it does not seem 
to secrete nectar, except in rare instances, and seldom produces 
seed in any quantity except in seasons of extreme drouth, when 
the hees will seek it freely for a time. 
Basswood or Linden (Tilia americana).—The basswood, 
known as whitewood, linden, or limetree, is widely disseminated 
in castern North America, being found from New England to 
Florida and Texas. It has also been introduced into California 
in a few localities. 
In times past basswood was a very important source of honey, 
but of late vears the linden forests are being rapidly cut off, and 
the land turned into farms or pastures. Wherever it is to be 
