178 
Eucalyptus is only found under cultivation in New Zealand, and following is 
New Zealand experience: 
All the species of Eucalyptus secrete nectar abundantly, but in general the quality of the honey 
'u inferior, of bad flavour, and difficult to extract. In this latter respect it resembles pure Manuka 
(Leptoipermum) honey, and it is interesting to note that the manuka and the gums are botanically related. 
It would appear as though the gums were not suitable for honey production, but the quality produced by 
different species varies enormously. It is quite probable that certain species would produce good market- 
able honey, as is the case with E. rostrata. If certain species combine good timber and honey production, 
it would certainly be advantageous to restrict the planting to these. This matter requires careful 
investigation, and such an inquiry is recommended to ber-keeper's organisations. (" Present and future 
source? of honey in New Zealand," by A. H. Cockayne, Biologist. Journ. of Agric. N.Z., Vol xiii, 20th 
July, 1916.) 
I take the following extract from another work emanating from a country where 
Eucalypts do not grow naturally : 
" Eucalypts Cultivated in the United States," by A. J. McClatchie, Bulletin No. 35, 
Bureau of Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture (pp. 41-42). 
At a source of honey.- The Eucalypts generally bloom so freely and so early in their development 
that as a group they are an important source of nectar for bees. The fact that some species can be found 
in bloom any day of the year, often during droughts, when other blossoms are scarce, in many cases in 
great profusion, makes them especially valuable as a constant source of bee food. Mr. Kinney, who has 
made extended observations on the blooming of the Eucalypts, writes in his " Eucalyptus " :-- 
Taking the sixty species and marked varieties of this genus in Southern California, I have 
never seen a day that flowers could not be found on some of them. . . . When we consider the 
free production of nectar by the Eucalyptus at seasons when there is little or no other resource for 
bees, and also the claimed medicinal value of honey from Eucalyptus flowers for relieving irritation 
from the mucous membrane, and as a nerve sedative, the presumption is strongly in its favour. Bee 
men will doubtless find it to their interest to study the species, and plant in waste places such sorts 
as will furnish the best kinds of nectar during the most difficult season for the bees. ... I 
believe that by some study of this subject, species of Eucalyptus with plenty of nectar could be so 
selected as to give a constant crop of flowers, or flowers at such times as those are absent in other 
plants. . . . 
Since Mr. Kinnoy wrote the above, bee-keepers have become more interested in the Eucalyptus as 
a source of nectar. William Shutt, foreman of thi Santa Monica Forestry Station, informs the writer 
that he receives many inquiries concerning the merits of certain species for bee pasture. In a subsequent 
portion of this publication will be found a list of the species useful for this purpose. In planting trees 
for forest cover, wind-breaks, shade, timber or fuel.it would be well, wherever the bee industry is important, 
to select varieties recognised as flower producers. Several species valuable for the purposes mentioned 
above notably the Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus corynocalyx), the Red Gum (E. rostrata), the Red Ironbaik 
grferoxylon), E. hemiphloia, and E. potjftmthema are profuse bloomers, and are thronged with bees 
during the blooming season, which with some species is quite protracted. 
Attention is invited to a paper on the " Honey Wealth of Forests " in " The 
Australian Forestry Journal" (Sydney), for October, 1918, by A. Shallard, a well- 
known authority on the subject. 
He states that there are nearly 5,000 people keeping bees in New South Wales 
bly four times that number in Australia. " It may occasion some 
surprise to be told that the honey-yield last season was between 5,000 and 6,000 tons ; 
also that practically all this honey came from Gum-trees." 
