HONEY PLANTS 127 



summers are favorable to the growth of 

 new plants for the next year; but if we 

 have cool moist weather during the bloom- 

 ing period the secretion of nectar is re- 

 tarded and the consequent honey crop is 

 short. On the other hand, warm weather, 

 and particularly warm nights, during the 

 blooming period tends to promote nectar 

 secretion and the crop may be expected to 

 be large in proportion. Such secretion, 

 however, may be cut off entirely if the 

 weather is too hot and dry, for under 

 these conditions the period of bloom is 

 very short, the plants dry up and die and 

 the white clover honey flow is over for 

 another year. All of these factors have a 

 very important bearing on the manage- 

 ment of the apiary and show how neces- 

 sary it is that the beekeeper have his col- 

 onies ready to gather the white clover 

 nectar promptly. Sometimes the flow 

 will last for weeks and again it may be a 

 matter of a few days and the beekeeper 

 who is not ready for it when it comes will 

 fail to reap any profit. 



