392 



Beekeeping 



Swedish clover ; see Alsike Clover. 



Sweet clover, Melilotus alba (Fig. 159), M. officinalis, M. indica. 

 Biennial herbs (M. indica, annual), 3-10 feet. Flowers white 

 in M. alba and yellow in other two species, in slender racemes. 



June-September, or even 

 later, usually in July. 

 Honey slightly green in color, 

 flavor described as like cin- 

 namon. Throughout United 

 States, usually in waste 

 places but becoming more 

 common as a forage plant. 

 Secretes nectar wherever 

 grown. Native of old world. 

 In some sections (Kentucky, 

 Utah) this plant is valued 

 as a soil renovator (see 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 485, 

 U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture). White, sweet clo- 

 ver, M. alba (Fig. 159), is the 

 most common species. Seed 

 is now oflered for sale annu- 

 ally in the bee journals. It 

 has been sown extensively 

 by beekeepers in waste places 

 and along embankments. 

 Called also Bokhara clover 



Fig. 159. 



- Sweet clover. 



and has numerous other common names. Twenty species, all 

 native of old world. M. indica more abundant in far west. 



Sweet-gale, bayberry, Myrioa spp. Wind pollinated, some pollen. 



Sweet gum, Liquidambar Styracifiua. A source of abundant prop- 

 olis. 



Sweet pepper bush, Cleihra alnifolia. Shrub, 3-10 feet. Honey 

 light amber, good body. In swampy woods, Maine to Florida, 

 especially near coast, July-August. Of special value in New 

 England and New Jersey. 



Tartarian honeysuckle, Lonicera tatarica. Nectar, important 

 locally, other species valuable in which flowers are not too long 

 for bees to reach. Bumble-bees sometimes pierce tubes of 

 the honeysuckle, L. Periclymenum, to obtain nectar, after 

 which honeybees work on the pierced flowers. 



Thistle, Carduus spp. Considerable nectar. 



Thistle family, CompositsB ; see Iron-weed, Boneset, Goldenrod, 



