58 



SOTTRCES OF HOKET. 



Teasel, with a white blossom, is that from which such 

 bounteous yields are obtained. I quote from an article 

 by Mr. D., in "Gleanings," January, 1878 : "The plant 

 is biennial as a rule, although a part of the plants (the 

 smaller ones), may not produce heads until the third 

 year. ***** "pj^g '^iugg^' as they are com- 

 monly called, are heads at the top of the stalks, and com- 

 mence to blossom about 

 July 10th, continuing 

 in bloom about a week 

 or ten days, opening first 

 in the center of the 

 head, blossoming toward 

 the tip and base, and 

 ending off at the base. 

 As soon as the blossoms 

 fall off, the heads are 

 cut, and cured for the 

 purpose of raising the 

 nap on cloth. The ' mid- 

 dlings,' as they are 

 termed, commence to 

 blossom when the 

 'kings' are about half 

 through, and the 'but- 

 tons ' come last, making 

 from 20 to 25 days of bloom from the commencing of the 

 ' kings ' to the end of the ' buttons.' Bees work on them 

 at all hours of the day, and no matter how well Bass- 

 wood may yield honey, you will find them at work on the 

 Teasel at all times. I have never known the Teasel to 

 fail to secrete honey except in 1876. The honey is very 

 thin, and much evaporation is required to bring it to the 

 consistency of Basswood honey when first gathered." 



§umach (Rhus glabra, fig. 15), is rich in its quality 

 and yield of honey. The shrubs coming into bloom in 



Fig. 15. — SMOOTH SUMACH. 



