348 



The California Sages. 



The barberry, too, Berberis vulgaris (Fig. 150), comes 

 after fruit blossoms, and is thronged with bees in search of 

 nectar in spring, as with children in winter, in quest of 

 the beautiful scarlet berries, so pleasingly tart. 



In California, the sumac, the horehound, the famous 

 black sage (Fig. 151), Audibertia Palmeri, or more cor- 



FiG. 150. 



Fig 150. 



Barberry, 



Chinese Wistaria, 



rectly Trechostema lanatum (there are two other species 

 less common), with its most beautiful and delicious honey, 

 and the more common, and hardly loss excellent, white 

 sage, Audibertia polystachia (Fig. 152), keep the bees 

 roaring with activity, in favorable seasons, from April 

 even unto June. 



In the South, as I learn from that able apiarist, Dr. J. 

 H. P. Brown, they are no less favored. The Japan privet, 

 the varnish tree, the acacia, the black gum and the per- 



