SOURCES OF HONEY. 49 - 
the chief yield will be found to be derived from entirely 
dissimilar sources, and I shall therefore speak in general 
terms, of those which have come more especially within 
the range of my own experience. 
SOURCES OF POLLEN. 
Assuming that bees are not to be taken out of their 
winter quarters until about the time that the Soft or 
Red Maple blossoms (for reasons which will appear here- 
after), I shall devote but little space to the pollen-produc- 
ing plants, which appear before that date. Among these 
early bloomers are Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus feti- 
dus), the Alders, (species of Alnus), and several species 
of Willow. The value of the pollen from these earlier 
blossoms is much diminished now that we feed rye- 
meal as a substitute for pollen. The feeding of rye- 
meal has in its favor the fact that bees can work upon it 
with facility in a sheltered situation, when raw and for- 
bidding weather would prevent their flying any great dis- 
tance in search of pollen. 
The appearance of Soft-Maple blossoms (Acer ru- 
brum), indicates that the season is sufficiently advanced 
to permit the bees to fly with safety. Of course, the date 
will vary in different seasons and in widely separated sec- 
tions of country. 
When the weather is fine, the yield of pollen from this 
Maple is usually bountiful, but as is often the case with 
early blossoms, these are sometimes injured by the frost. 
EARLY HONEY PLANTS. 
Golden Willow (Salix alba, var. vitellina), soon fol- 
lows the Maple, and in favorable weather will afford an 
abundance of honey of a superior quality. 
Gooseberry, Currant, Cherry, Pear, and Peach blessoms 
each contribute a share of both honey and pollen. Sugar 
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