BEEKEEPINt; IN THE SOUTH 113 



tracing these to a reliable source is too great to accomplish in a 

 short time is certain. 



Therefore the contents of this chapter will show only the ten 

 or twelve plants in each state from which a sufficient portion of 

 the surplus honey is secured, to make the plants of real apicul- 

 tural importance. The scientific name of the plant has been de- 

 termined by reference of the case in question to the botany 

 department of the several states in question, or to recognized 

 scientific workers in the locality. The writer assumes no re- 

 sponsibility for the accuracy of other than the common names, 

 although every effort has been taken to make this report worthy 

 of credence. 



What Is a Surplus Honey Plant ? 



Another feature which is seldom recognized by beekeepers is 

 that frequently honey plants should be classed as surplus honey 

 plants, when they are by custom placed in the stimulative or 

 poUenrproducing column. Too frequently beekeepers say this or 

 that plant does not yield surplus. Many cases investigated have 

 shown that the plant ordinarily yielded surplus honey, but that 

 the bees owned by the man in question were seldom in shape 

 to get surplus from the plant at the season of its bloom. Too 

 frequently this is because of poor beekeeping, rather than be- 

 cause of the season or other conditions. 



The mistakes of northern farmers who settle in the South, 

 have frequently been pointed out to the writer, by government 

 men in that territory. Attempts are made, unsuccessfully, to 

 raise crops wholly unadapted to the South or by methods pre- 

 destined to failure, merely because such crops or methods suc- 

 ceeded in the North. The Northern beekeeper settling in the 

 South frequently makes the sam.e mistakes. Many plant buck- 

 wheat or alfalfa, because they have come from portions of the 

 United States where these were staple honey plants. Not enough 

 attention has been given by beekeepers to the influence of tem- 

 perature or soils on nectar secretion of honey plants. No atten- 

 tion can be given to these factors in this chapter, but they 

 undoubtedly explain the failure of buckwheat or alfalfa to yield 



