AUSTRALIAN HONEY PLANTS 279 



Zealand, and has materially altered the flavour of the 

 Dominion butter. The honey is pale in colour but of thin 

 body. Like the nectar gathered from Horehound it does 

 not appeal to all palates. 



Plantain (common), {Plantago major). Introduced 

 to Australasia from Europe with impure agricultural 

 seed, and now widely spread over the pastures. It bears 

 minute white flowers — on furry stalks — that produce a 

 dull white pollen in spring and early summer. 



Pepper Tree, {Schinus molle). This well known 

 shade tree is to be found in all of the Australian States ; 

 thriving equally well in the dampness of Gippsland and 

 the heat of Queensland. It stands drought remarkably 

 well, and blooms more or less throughout the year. Mr. 

 HoUoway, an extensive honey-producer, of Queensland, 

 says : — ' ' It does remarkably well here, blooming right on 

 from August till late autumn, sometimes even into the 

 winter." It produces honey and yellowish pollen, and 

 his experience differs from that of the Americans (who 

 describe the honey as dark), for he is sure the honey is 

 very pale in colour, and considers the Pepper trees of 

 great value to the apiculturist. Mr. HoUoway once 

 secured 600 lbs. of beautiful honey from 13 colonies 

 working on pepper trees. So he is in a position to judge. 



Rape, (Brassica rapa). Of cosmopolitan origin. It 

 is during the spring months that it rears up its tall spike 

 of yellow flowers. Yields pollen and thin watery honey. 

 Farmers find it a profitable crop and occasionally small 

 yields of honey are reported from it. 



Raspberry (wild), {Ruhus parvifolius). Where 

 plentiful it helps to build up the colonies in early spring. 

 Pollen creamy white. 



Rice Flowers, (Pimelea ligustrina). Some of the 

 native pimeleas have very handsome flowers, and bees 

 work on them, but no large crops of honey have been 

 reported from the Eice flowers. 



Rewa Rewa or New Zealand Honeysuckle, {Knightia 

 excelsa. R.Brown). This native of New Zealand yields 



