SOURCES OF HONEY. 95 
busy bee, yielding the most beautiful honey, clear as 
erystal and white as snow. The sugar maple produces 
honey of excellent quality, and where forests of this tree 
abound, large quantities of honey are stored, while it is 
in blossom in early spring.* Locust, whitewood, mign- 
onette, 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 number of swarms will 
succeed in almost any locality even without feeding. 
To make this still more 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 
diameter, 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 statement, that a bee will go 
seven miles to gather honey. But on this point J am 
able to offer ample proof, to establish, beyond a reason- 
able doubt, the fact that the Italian bee will go that dis- 
tance. 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 or size, I deter- 
mined to avail myself of the opportunity offered to satisfy 
*Climate and soil are so variable, it is impossible to give the sources of 
honey so as to apply minutely to every locality. I shall strive to designate 
the principal sources. The bee 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. 
