HONEYBEES Al^D HONEY PBODUCTION'. 
53 
NECTAR SOURCES FOR SURPLUS HONEY. 
The principal sources of surplus honey, that is, honey 
which is removed from the hive by the beekeeper for his 
own disposition, in contradistinction to that consumed by 
the bees, are shown in Table XV. 
It is to be observed that the clovers, including alfaKa and 
sweet clover, belonging to the great family of the Legu- 
minosse, are the most important source of the country's 
honey, these alone furnishing 34.9 per cent of the entire 
supply, besides the larger component (probably 8 per cent) 
of the 13.3 per cent additional of blended, or mixed honey. 
Of the clovers, the most important is the small, low growing 
white clover of the lawns and fields, credited with 19.6 per 
cent of the total supply. Next in importance is alfalfa, 
furnishing 7.7 per cent, and its near relative, sweet clover, 
furnishing 6.2 per cent. Alsike, 1.4 per cent, has probably 
been reported in some cases as white clover, blooming at 
the same time and producing the same type of honey. 
Red clover is mentioned occasionally, as in dry seasons 
when the corolla tubes are short enough for the bees to 
reach the nectar, its profuse secretion is utilized. This and 
crimson clover, a source of nectar in a few southeastern 
States, are included under white clover, as are all reports of 
clover simply, without further designation, as the honey 
from all these excepting sweet clover and aKalfa, is almost 
identical, and in common practice is handled as white 
clover honey. 
Among the trees, the heaviest producer is the basswood, 
credited with 3.5 per cent pure, and with white clover as a 
blend amountmg to 4.0 per cent additional. The tulip poplar 
furnishes 2.8 per cent, and the sourwood 1.6 per cent, the last, 
however, often being given credit for honey actually derived 
from other sources. The tupelo and other gums, 3.1 per cent, 
and the holly, 1.1 per cent, are bountiful producers in 
limited Southern areas. For heavy yields the orange and 
other citrus trees are notable, and orange honey, 2 per cent, is 
of importance commercially. No other tree is credited with 
as much as 1 per cent of the total, although in many sections 
black locust is important in an occasional season. Among 
tree shrubs and bushes, the mountain sages, 2.3 per cent, 
