408 



THE beb-kbepbr's guide; 



frutescens), (Fig. 208), the very ornamental climber, or the 

 still more lovely Chinese wistaria (Wistaria sinensis), (Fig-. 

 209), which has longer racemes than the native, and often 

 blossoms twice in the season. These are the woody twiners 

 for the apiarist. I regret to say that neither one is hardy in 

 Michigan. 



The barberry, too (Berberis vulgaris), (Fig. 210), 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. 



Fig. 208. 



American Wistaria. — Original. 



In California, the sumac, the hoarhound, the famous ball 

 or black sages (Fig. 211), (Ramonastachyoidesand R. palmeri), 

 with their most beautiful and delicious honey, and the more 

 common and equally excellent white sage (Ramona poly- 

 stachya), (Fig. 212), keep the bees roaring with activity, in 

 favorable seasons, from April even unto June. It is charac- 

 teristic of California bloom to continue for weeks. The long 

 racemes of white sage may open in April and continue in 

 blossom away to June. 



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



