OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY, 403 



tribute to the early stores. Especially valuable are the silver 

 maples (Acer dasycarpum), the red or soft maples (Acer 

 rubrum) (Fig. 201), and the box-elder or ash-leaf maple 

 (Negundo aceroides), as they bloom so very early, long before 

 the leaves appear. The bees work on these in Michigan the 

 first week of April, and often in March. They are also mag- 

 nificent shade-trees, especially those that have the weeping 

 habit. Their early bloom, is very pleasing, their summer form 



Fig. 202. 



Willow. — Original. 



and foliage beautiful, while their flaming tints in autumn are 

 indescribable. The foreign maples, sycamore (Acer pseudo- 

 platanus), and Norway (Acer platanoides), are also very beau- 

 tiful. Whether superior to ours as honey-plants I am unable 

 to say. 



The willows, too (Fig. 202), rival the maples in the early 

 period of bloom. Some are very early, blossoming in March, 

 while others, like the white willow (Salix alba) (Fig. 202), 

 bloom in May. The flowers on one tree or bush of the willow 

 are all pistillate — that is, have pistils but no stamens — while 



