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Beekeeping 
ter of surprise that they also show marked differences in 
color, water content and flavor of nectar. Not only do 
flowers of different species of plants secrete nectar of various 
types but nectar of any one species may differ according to 
soil, climatic conditions and other environmental factors 
influencing the growth of the plant, just as may the leaves 
and other parts of the plants. For example, in Colorado 
alfalfa honey is a beautiful white product but farther south 
it is more amber in color. This may sometimes be due to 
an admixture of other nectars. 
Variation in secretion. 
Nectar-secretion may, in a sense, be taken as an indica¬ 
tion as to the most favorable conditions for growth of any 
species and most species which furnish nectar are highly 
susceptible in this respect to outside influences. Within the 
limits of the geographical distribution of a nectar-secreting 
species there may be a more restricted area in which the 
flowers secrete nectar. The species may be rather prevalent 
outside its usual nectar-secreting boundaries, but there is 
probably some factor in the environment not best suited 
to the plant if it fails to produce nectar. For example, 
alfalfa is now grown in all sections of the United States 
but the Mississippi River may be taken roughly as the eastern 
boundary of its secreting area. White clover produces in 
the northern part of the United States a superb honey, 
often in exceedingly heavy honey-flows, but farther south 
it becomes a honey-plant of secondary importance. 
Effects of climatic conditions on secretion. 
Any species of nectar-secreting plant is often rendered 
non-productive by unfavorable weather conditions. The 
smaller plants usually cease nectar-secretion at once in dry 
weather, while the tree sources are less quickly affected. 
Basswood seems to be an exception, however. Hot, sultry 
weather with rains at night during the blooming period of 
white clover usually brings a heavy honey-flow. The sages 
