274 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



Mustard, {Sinapis arvensis). Has yellow flowers 

 and like rape is a member of the Cabbage family. It 

 yields pale honey — rather thin — and yellow pollen in 

 spring. The Treacle-mustard of the cultivated fields is 

 of no use to the apiarist. 



Meadow Sage, {Salvia pratensis L.). Ah introduction 

 from Europe and is useful for honey during midsummer. 



"Moonah," (M. parviflora). A handsome bush 

 extending from the Mallee (Victoria), to Western Aus- 

 tralia. Yields honey but no large crops have been 

 reported. One of the many Melaleucas. 



Mistletoe, (Loranthus) . As is generally known the 

 Mistletoe is a parasite on many of the native trees, and is 

 very prominent in the forests of the Eucalypts. Birds 

 carry the glutinous-coated seeds on their bills and wipe 

 them off on to the tree limbs. A ' ' growing point ' ' pierces 

 the outer covering and finally reaches the life-giving sap. 

 Mistletoe yields honey and pollen but never in sufficient 

 quantity to enable the apiarist to express any opinion 

 on the quality. Of course Mistletoe is destructive to 

 the tree. 



Melilot, {Melilotus alba). Belongs to the same family 

 as the clovers, e.g., Leguminosce. Some seeds of the family 

 retain their vitality for a period of 30 to 50 years, two or 

 three varieties up to 100 years. Americans regard the 

 Melilotus (or Sweet clover, as they call it) as a first-class 

 honey plant. The only Melilot covering any considerable 

 area in Australasia is the "King Island Melilotus." 



Melilot, (Melilotus parviflora). This has a good 

 reputation among foreigners, but the author is unable 

 to obtain any detailed information. 



Mintbush, (Prostanthera rotundifolia). A beautiful 

 shrub with distinctive foliage, as the name implies. 

 During October the plants are just one vivid mass of 

 beautiful bluey-purple flowers; in fact the foliage is com- 

 pletely eclipsed by the blossom. This plant loves the 

 stony banks of creeks and rivers, and while in bloom is 

 just covered with bees gathering a pale limpid nectar and 



