AUSTRALIAN HONEY PLANTS 271 



I commenced bee-keeping I uprooted all these flowers in 

 my garden when I found that bees were being trapped in 

 the blossoms." 



Hibbertias. Native bushes common on the heathy- 

 lands. In early spring the bright yellow flowers (some- 

 what like a Primrose) are useful for bright yellow pollen. 



Honey Locust Tree, (OleditscMa triacanthos) . Some- 

 what similar to the False Acacia (which see). The colour 

 of the flowers is golden yellow. 



Hawthorn, (Cratcegus oxyacantha). Introduced to 

 Australia as a hedge plant. In early Spring it produces 

 a wealth of snow-white bloom that yields a beautiful 

 delicately-flavoured honey, and bright yellow pollen. Wet 

 weather usually prevails during the flowering period, but 

 bees work on it even during a sharp shower. 



Herbs. Many of the herbs are good honey-plants. 

 The principal ones are Horehound, Thyme, Sage, Mar- 

 joram, Balm, and Pennyroyal. The Horehound is 

 especially good, and at Warragul, Victoria, considerable 

 Pennyroyal honey is gathered. 



W. Reid, Senr., New South Wales, writes as follows : — 

 "Horehound was brought to this country by the early 

 settlers, being one of the few medicines of early days; 

 was carried to the various stations as such, and did not 

 only serve as medicine, but became a pest, and in the 

 sixties, and even before,, it was quite common to 

 have honey very strongly flavoured with Horehound, 

 and if Horehound honey held the same virtues as 

 is claimed for the plant, I should have required no 

 other medicine, as I was very fond of it and am still. 

 Some say the honey is bitter, I don't think so, I would 

 very willingly give a 60 lb. tin of Box honey for the same 

 quantity of Horehound honey. The honey is very like 

 Box honey, but has a green shade. I believe it is one of 

 our best honey-plants, is visited all day by bees, and 

 is equal or nearly so to American Mountain Sage or 

 Mignonette. Horehound will grow nearly anywhere and 

 in any season when there is enough wet weather, as well 



