BEE MANUAL. 289 
in quantity every season. Mr. B. F. Carroll, of Dresden, Texas, 
reported a yield of nearly 1000 lb. from one colony, gathered 
principally from this shrub. I have now some young plants 
growing, which have withstood the frosts remarkably well. 
They would do well in most parts of Australasia. 
The United States can boast of a number of what may be 
termed fine honey-bearing weeds, among which figwort (Fig. 
134) stands high. I have grown this plant myself for several 
years, and can speak well for its honey-yielding qualities. As 
soon as the first little pitcher-like flowers open, the bees are 
constantly visiting the plants till they are out of blossom. They 
Fig, 138,HORSE-MINT OF TEXAS (Mowarda punciata). 
flower for about two months, commencing at the end of No- 
vember. Being tuberous-rooted plants, and dying down every 
winter, frost does not affect them. The honey, as far as 1 can 
judge of it, is very fine. 
The golden-rods (Fig. 135) are members of a very numerous 
family to be found growing nearly all over the United States. 
They must be very valuable honey plants; for A. I Root 
states that ‘in some localities they furnish the bulk of the 
great yield of fall honey.” These and the asters (Fig. 136), 
U 
