AUSTEALIAN" HONEY PLANTS 265 



Blooms in November in some places with only a small 

 quantity of honey ; March in others with a flow of honey 

 averaging 100 lbs. per hive. 



White Gum of Western Australia, (E. redunca). This 

 tree begins to bloom in April and lasts until June. It 

 yields a surplus of 80 lbs. per hive in an average year 

 and leaves the colonies in good order for winter. 



White Box, (E. Bosistoana). A good honey-tree in 

 New South Wales but blooms very irregularly. The 

 flowering period is during November about the ranges of 

 Monaro. At Elsmore the White box gives a flow of honey 

 during May, June, July, and August some seasons. 

 Pollen of a "whitish" tint is plentiful and also a pale 

 nice honey during the "on" years. An apiarist at 

 Inverell, New South Wales, sends the following note: — 

 "White box: Those who should know say that there are 

 two varieties in this district, one which should be called 

 Red Box. The smaller branches are inclined to be red, 

 and the honey is decidedly so. It blooms in the autumn, 

 whereas the real White box blooms in winter and spring, 

 and produces a very white honey of delightful flavour. ' ' 



Yellow Box, {E. melliodora). This is perhaps the 

 only Eucalypt known throughout the Commonwealth by 

 one vernacular name. It is widely distributed and is the 

 most popular honey-tree 

 in Australia. Its beauti- 

 ful honey-scented bloom 

 is easily recognised; in- 

 deed the odour is dis- 

 cernible a considerable 

 distance away. It is a 

 prolific bloomer, yielding 

 much honey but little or 

 no pollen. The Austra- 

 lians of the cities prefer 

 this honey to all others, but the Englishman objects to 

 the characteristic flavour so much sought after by 

 Australasians. This honey is usually associated with 

 that of Red gum, and when heated very little "scum" 

 rises to the top. 



Yellow Box. 



