250 



MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



Sf C^PSi/i£S 



Fig. 83. Apple Box. 



a list of the most prominent species. The flowering 

 periods vary with the season and situation, so the time of 

 blooming is based on what generally happens to the 

 average bee-farmer in the Australian bnsh. 



Apple Box {E. Stuartiana). This gum tree varies 

 greatly as a producer of honey. In New South Wales 



the honey is gathered 

 during January and is 

 described as dark and in- 

 ferior in many places. 

 Near the northern rivers 

 the yield is sometimes 

 heavy and the colour pale. 

 In Western Victoria the 

 blooms last from Febru- 

 ary to April. Honey dark, 

 of sharp flavour, and when 

 candied has a close, fine grain rather murky in colour. 

 The ' ' Apple ' ' box in Eastern Gippsland yields pale honey 

 and the flavour is distinctly ' ' box. ' ' The average yield is 

 about 60 lbs. per hive; pollen fairly abundant and like 

 that of all other Eucalypts, pale yellow or creamy in 

 colour; buds usually in clusters of 5 to 8, and blooms 

 every second year. Not unlike Manna gum in some 

 localities, and sometimes flowers three consecutive years. 



Black or Bastard Box, {E. largiflorens). This is a 

 good tree for apiarists on account of its wide distribution. 

 It ranges from South Australia, East to the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria. The honey is fairly pale in colour and of 

 good body. 



Blue Gum, (E. globulus). This Eucalypt received 

 its name from the shape of the large fruits. Some 

 measure an inch in diameter. This species is found 

 principally in Tasmania and along the Southern Coast 

 of Victoria. There is also a small fruited variety found 

 in North Gippsland. A good tree for pollen and also for 

 medium amber honey of rather thin consistency. Blooms 



