10 BULLETIN 489, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
cussed. No doubt such an organization easily could be effected. The 
length of North Carolina and the slowness of travel from east to west 
would make it desirable to have some agreement whereby the meetings 
could alternate between the eastern and western parts of the State. 
ATTITUDE OF BEEKEEPERS TOWARD IMPROVED METHODS. 
One of the hopeful signs, if not the most hopeful one, is the atti- 
tude of the beekeepers toward improved apparatus and methods. 
There is not the self-satisfied attitude which is often met elsewhere 
and which is so impossible to overcome. There was shown an 
eagerness to learn and to make use of the information in cases where 
certain simple manipulations have been explained. 
FOLKLORE. 
Superstitions regarding bees which formerly were common, such 
as ringing bells or beating pans to cause a swarm to settle, " telling 
the bees" when their owner dies so they will not also die, and a 
belief that selling bees brings bad luck, were encountered, as well as 
some which were not so common. Some beekeepers will not count 
the hives for fear of ill luck. It is said b}^ the superstitious that on 
Washington's birthday all the hives must be slightly moved to ward 
off ill luck. Bees are " robbed " by killing the bees at the time of 
the full moon in June, as it is believed there is then little " beebread " 
in the hive. These superstitions will, of course, disappear with 
better beekeeping. 
HONEY PLANTS. 
Sherman already has listed the main honey sources, although 
probably gallberry should have been given more prominence for 
the eastern part of the State bordering on the swamps and streams. 
From the standpoint of nectar-producing flora and consequent 
manipulations the State may be divided into three parts — western, 
central, and eastern — without definite boundary lines. The leading 
honey plants in these three sections are sourwood, clovers, and gall- 
berry, respectively. Tulip poplar, or " poplar," is purposely omitted, 
for, although it is abundant and is a good nectar producer, honeys 
from the sources mentioned above are superior and bring a higher 
price than does that from tulip poplar. It is believed that the bee- 
keeper will do well so to manipulate his colonies that they will con- 
sume the honey from this source in breeding and thus attain greater 
strength for gathering the more desirable later honeys. 
All through the mountainous and upper Piedmont sections of the 
State sourwood flourishes and is still abundant enough, in spite of 
cutting, to be the leading surplus honey plant. Going eastward, be- 
cause of the increased clearing of land for agricultural operations 
