HONEY-FLOWS AND THEIR SOURCES. 



DEARTH OF INFORMATION. 



The in([uirer will search in vain the bookshelves of 

 the leading city libraries for information regarding the 

 honey-producing capabilities of the indigenous flora. 

 This deticiency is not due to any laxity on the part 

 of library authorities, because up to the issue of this 

 little chapter no information dealing with the subject has 

 been published. It is admitted at the outset that this 

 tabulation is not complete, for it is not possible in a small 

 compass to enumerate all plants of value to the apicul- 

 turist. Again, in many of the remote portions of this 

 Continent, there are immense areas of country many miles 

 in extent literally covered with blossom. No honey-flows 

 have been recorded from these sources, because no bee- 

 farmer has tried them and that is the only way to test 

 the country. 



As far back as August, 1908, the author — in the 

 columns of the Federal Independent Beekeeper — 

 approached the task of collecting reliable information 

 from bee-farmers in the various States; this work has 

 never been abandoned, and the result is before you. 



From the many botanical specimens received the 

 correct designation of each is assured. It must be under- 

 stood that the Eucalypts are extremely difRcult to identify 

 from common names. One correspondent writes "these 

 are the names as known to me : every ten miles different 

 names," and this is where the whole matter becomes 

 involved. One apiarist reports a flow of honey from 



