378 PASTURAGE AND OVERSTOCKING, 
CHAPTER XVI 
PasTURAGE AND OVERSTOCKING, 
Pasturage. 
698. The quantity of nectar yielded by different flowers 
varies considerably; some give so little, that a bee has to 
visit hundreds to fill her sack, while the corolla of others 
overflows with it. 
In the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, there is a 
blossom, the Protea mellifera, which probably surpasses 
all others in the abundance of its nectar. Indeed, so 
abundant is it, that it is said, the natives gather it by 
dipping it from the flowers, with spoons. Mr. De Planta, 
in a lengthy and scientific article published in the Revue 
Internationale d’ Apiculture, gives an account of his anal- 
ysis of some samples of this honey, which he had received 
through the ‘‘ Moravian United Brothers.’? He reports 
it to have the scent and the taste of ripe bananas, and con- 
siders it very sweet and good. 
699. The same plants yield nectar in different quantities 
in different countries. The Caucasian Comfrey, from 
which the bees reap a rich harvest in Europe, is of little 
account here. 
700. Every bee-keeper should carefully acquaint him- 
self with the honey-resources of his own neighborhood. 
We will mention particularly some of the most important 
plants from which bees draw their supplies. Since Dzier- 
zon’s discovery of the use which may be made of flour, 
early blossoms producing pollen only, are not so important. 
