BEES 
suggested as very probable that the black 
belt of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 
and Texas would be well adapted to it, 
the lands of this region being exceedingly 
strong in lime. In portions of Southern 
Europe sulla clover is a most important 
forage crop for farm stock as well as for 
honey bees. 
Serradelia.—Iis an annual leguminous 
plant which will grow on sandy land, and 
which yields, besides good forage, clear 
honey of good quality in June and July. 
Chestnut.—Valuable for timber, orna- 
ment, shade, and nuts, yields honey and 
pollen in June or July. 
Innden, Sourwood, and Catalpa.—Fine 
shade, ornamental, and timber trees, 
yield great quantities of first quality 
honey in June and July. 
Cotton.—In the South cotton blossoms, 
appearing as they do in succession dur- 
ing the whole summer, often yield con- 
siderable honey. It would appear, how- 
ever, that when the plants are very rank 
in growth the blossoms—being corre- 
spondently large—are too deep for the 
bees to reach the nectar. 
Chicory.—Raised for salad and for its 
roolis, is, whenever permitted to blossom, 
eagerly visited for honey in July and 
August. 
Sweet, Medicinal, and Pot Herbs.—Such 
as Marjoram, savory, lavender, catnip, 
balm, sage, thyme, etc., when allowed to 
blossom, nearly all yield honey in June, 
July, or August. Where fields of them are 
grown for the seed the honey yield may 
be considerable from this source. 
Alfaifa.—Furnishes in the West a large 
amount of very fine honey during June 
and July. Its importance there as a for- 
age crop is well known, but how far 
eastward its cultivation may be profitably 
extended is still a question, and even 
should it prove of value in the Hast as a 
forage plant, its honey-producing quali- 
ties there would be still uncertain. 
Parsnips—When left for seed, blossom 
freely trom June to August, inclusive, 
and are much frequented by honey bees. 
Pepvermint.—Raised for its foliage, 
from which oil is distilled, is most fre- 
591 
quently cut before the bees derive much 
benefit from it, but whenever allowed to 
blossom it 18 eagerly sought after by 
them, and yields honey freely during 
July and August, 
Bokhara, or Sweet Clover.—Is in some 
sections of the country considered a val- 
uable forage crop. Animals can be taught 
to like it, and it is very valuable as a 
restorer of exhausted lime soils, while in 
regions lacking in bee pasturage during 
the summer months it is a very important 
addition. It withstands drought remark- 
ably well and yields a large quantity of 
fine honey. 
Cucumber, Squash, Pumpkin and Melon. 
—Blossoms furnish honey and some pol- 
len to the bees in July and August. 
Eucalypti.i—Valuable for their timber 
and as ornaments to lawn and roadside, 
are quick-growing trees adapted to the 
southern portions of the United States. 
They yield much honey between July and 
October. 
Carob Tree—The cultivation of which 
has been commenced in the Southwest, is 
an excellent honey yielder in late sum- 
mer. It is an ornamental tree and gives, 
in addition to honey, another valuable 
product—the carob bean of commerce. 
Sacalne—A forage and ornamental 
plant of recent introduction, is a great 
favorite with bees. It blossoms profusely 
during August, is a hardy perennial, and 
thrives in wet and also fairly in dry situ- 
ations. withstanding the ordinary sum- 
mer drought of the Hastern states be- 
cause of its deeply penetrating roots. 
Buckwheat.—Is an important honey 
and pollen producer. Its blossoms ap- 
pear about four weeks after the seed is 
sown, hence it may be made to fill in a 
summer dearth of honey plants. 
How to Obtain Surplus Honey and Wax 
Good wintering, followed by careful 
conservation of the natural warmth of 
the colony, the presence of a prolific 
queen—preferably a young one—with 
abundant stores for brood rearing, are, 
together with the prevention, in so far 
as possible, of Swarming, the prime con- 
ditions necessary to bring a colony of 
