SODECBS OF HONEY. 49 



the chief yield will be found to be derived from entirely 

 dissimilar sources, and I shall therefore speak in general 

 terms, of those which have come more especially within 

 the range of my own experience. 



SOURCES OF POLLEN". 



Assuming that bees are not to be taken out of their 

 winter quarters until about the time that the Soft or 

 Eed Maple blossoms (for reasons which will appear here- 

 after), I shall devote but little space to the pollen-produc- 

 ing plants, which appear before that date. Among these 

 early bloomers are Skunk Cabbage {Symplocarpus fasti- 

 dus), the Alders, (species of Alnus), and several species 

 of Willow. The value of the pollen from these earlier 

 blossoms is much diminished now that we feed rye- 

 meal as a substitute for pollen. The feeding of rye- 

 meal has in its favor the fact that bees can work upon it 

 with facility in a sheltered situation, when raw and for- 

 bidding weather would prevent their flying any great dis- 

 tance in search of pollen. 



The appearance of Soft-Maple blossoms {Acer ru- 

 brum), indicates that the season is suflSciently advanced 

 to permit the bees to fly with safety. Of course, the date 

 will vary in dilferent seasons and in widely separated sec- 

 tions of country. 



When the weather is fine, the yield of pollen from this 

 Maple is usually bountiful, but as is often the case with 

 early blossoms, these are sometimes injured by the frost. 



EARLY HONEY PLANTS. 



Golden Willow (Saliz alba, var. vitellina), soon fol- 

 lows the Maple, and in favorable weather will afford an 

 abundance of honey of a superior quality. 



Gooseberry, Currant, Cherry, Pear, and Peach blossoms 

 each contribute a share of both honey and pollen. Sugar 



