382 Books for Apiarists. 



delicious honey. In all of this great family, the flowers 

 are small and inconspicuous, clustered in compact heads, 

 and when the plants are showy with bloom, like the sun- 

 flowers, the brilliancy is due to the involucre, or bracts 

 which serve as a frill to decorate the more modest flowers. 



The great willow herb, or fire weed, Epilobium angus- 

 tifolium (Fig. 184), is often the source of immense honey 

 harvests. The- downy seeds blow to great distances, and 

 finding a lodgment, their vitality makes them burst forth 

 whenever brush is burned or forest fires rage. Hence the 

 name, fire weed. This handsome plant often covers acres 

 of burnt lands in Northern Michigan with its beautiful pink 

 bloom. Unlike most nectar from late bloom, the honey 

 from this flower is white as clover honey. It often gives 

 a rich harvest to the apiarist of Northern Michigan. 

 Another excellent fall honey plant of wide range is the 

 coral berry or Indian currant, Symphoricarpus vulgaris. 

 The honey product of this plant is worthy its name. 1 

 close this account with mention of another Cleome, the 

 famous spider plant (Fig. 185), Cleome pungens. Th's 

 plant thrives best in rich, damp clay soil. It is only open 

 for a little time before night-fall and at early dawn; but 

 when ojDen its huge drops of nectar keep the bees wild 

 with excitement, calling them up even before daylight, and 

 enticing them to the field long after dusk. 



I have thus mentioned the most valuable honey plants of 

 our country. Of course there are many omissions. Let 

 all apiarists, by constant observation, help to fill up the 

 list. 



BOOKS ON BOTANY. 



I am often asked what books are best to make apiarists 

 botanists. I am glad to answer this question, as the study 

 of botany will not only be valuable discipline, but will 

 also furnish abundant pleasure, and give important prac- 

 tical information. Gray's Lessons and Manual of Botany, 

 in one volume, published by Ivison, Piiinney, Blakeman 

 & Co., New York, is the most desirable treatise on this 

 subject. A more recent work by Prof. C. E. Bessej-, and 

 published by Henry Holt & Co., is also very excellent 



