30 ARKANSAS EXPERIMENT STATION 



cient abundance to make comb honey profitable. It comes into 

 bloom about the middle of May. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) 

 begins to bloom at this time. In the eastern part of Arkansas 

 alfalfa perhaps produces little or no nectar, but in the western 

 part it is believed to be an important honey plant. About this 

 time holly (Ilex opaca) comes into bloom. It forms an excellent 

 and abundant source of nectar in the southern part of the state. 

 Persimmon, (Diospyros virginiana) common almost over the 

 entire state, blooms during the latter part of May and early 

 June. It is a valuable source of nectar supply. Black locust, 

 tho not very common in some localities, furnishes a considerable 

 supply of nectar during this time. Rattan vine (Berchenica 

 scandens) locally very abundant especially in the central part 

 of the state yields honey of rather dark color. It blooms early in 

 May. 



Sweet clover (Melilotus alba) begins to bloom early in June 

 and often continues for a month or more. It is a very important 

 source of nectar. Since it does well in Arkansas, and is a good 

 forage crop the planting of it deserves very much to be encour- 

 aged. 



Hairy Vetch blooms during May and June. It is grown as 

 a forage crop to a limited extent. As a source of nectar it is 

 well worth mentioning. 



Cotton comes in bloom on about the middle of July and con- 

 tinues till frost. Since it yields a very considerable amount of 

 nectar, and blooms when wild flowers and other honey plants are 

 somewhat scarce, it forms perhaps the most important source 

 for nectar in Arkansas. Cotton, as is probably well known, 

 yields nectar not only thru the flowers but also thru the leaves. 

 Nectar secretion in cotton depends on several factors. When 

 grown on rich alluvial soil it yields large quantities, on thin land 

 it may not yield any appreciable amount. It secretes rapidly in 

 the early hours of the morning, late in the evening, and on cloudy 

 days. The honey is of a light color. The flavor compares well 

 with other good grades of honey. 



Among the wild flowers of mid-summer the various species 

 of Eupatorium (Thoroughwort) are in many localities of con- 

 siderable importance. However, more so is Heartsease (Persi- 

 caria persicaria) which comes in bloom about the flrst of August. 

 It yields honey of a fairly good quality, but of a rather strong 

 flavor. 



In the matter of fall flowers Arkansas is very fortunate. Be- 

 ginning about September first, the fields and roadsides are cover- 

 ed with a tall yellow flowering weed, locally known as Spanish 

 needles (Bidens involucrata) . This weed yields a large amount 

 of nectar. The honey is of bright yellow color, of good flavor, 

 and entirely satisfactory for winter stores. 



