Regional Differences within the United States 211 
sources. If the crops of sage honey were uniformly heavy, 
this would be an ideal region for comb-honey production, 
for sage honey is mild in flavor, water-white and does not 
easily granulate. However, successful comb-honey pro¬ 
duction necessitates a rapid flow, which often fails to appear 
in this region and most of the honey is extracted. Here too 
there are many professional beekeepers, although a consid¬ 
erable number are not modern in their methods of manipu¬ 
lation and equipment. 
In addition to the geographical limits ascribed to these 
main regions, other localities situated outside the prescribed 
boundaries might well be included with certain of the gen¬ 
eral regions in discussing the type of flow. For example, 
California, north of the sage region, is comparable with the 
South, and along the Pacific coast to the north there are 
localities which belong to the white clover region. 
Restricted regions. 
In addition to the more general divisions named, there 
are other localities with special advantages for the beekeeper, 
but more limited in extent, which lie within the boundaries 
of the main divisions. As previously mentioned, the south¬ 
eastern region is virtually composed of a number of such 
restricted regions. The list here given will be recognized 
as incomplete and is intended merely as a suggestion. Many 
more restricted regions will be recognized from the discus¬ 
sion of the sources of nectar. Among the more important 
limited regions may be mentioned those in which the fol¬ 
lowing plants secrete nectar. 
(1) Buckwheat. — The honey of this plant is dark and of 
strong flavor, suitable chiefly for manufacturing purposes. 
'The variation in the secretion of nectar from buckwheat 
has been mentioned. 
(2) Sumac. — Valuable locally in New England. Another 
species of the same genus yields a surplus in limited areas 
in Georgia. 
(3) Spanish needle (numerous species). — Heavy yielders 
