264 
DANDELION 
A part of a field of dandelion in full bloom at Medina. This, and other fields like it near Medina fur¬ 
nish considerable honey and pollen in early spring—just when they can do the most good. We do not find 
that the plant hurts the hay or pastures in the least. 
best honey plants of this section. Altho 
it does not possess a fine flavor, it is used 
as a breakfast honey. On many farms 
in Ontario and Quebec dandelion produces 
more honey in early spring than any other 
plant. A strong colony will store in the 
super from 30 to 40 pounds. On May 29, 
1916, the warmest day of the month, the 
temperature at noon being 75 degrees, 
there was, says Sladen, a gain of nine 
pounds and twelve ounces for the 24 
hours, by a colony on scales at the Experi¬ 
ment Earm, Ottawa, mainly from dande¬ 
lion. This plant is also said to yield a 
surplus at Fort William. It is apparent¬ 
ly rapidly spreading, both in Canada and 
the United States, and becoming yearly of 
more importance to bee culture. 
The dandelion is also a valuable honey 
plant in Europe, and is listed in the honey 
floras of Spain, Holland, Austria, Ger¬ 
many, and Norway. In Holland, in May 
the meadows are often literally covered 
with a golden carpet of dandelion bloom. 
In southern Germany it is abundant, and 
furnishes the first honey of the season. It 
has a deep-yellow color, and crystallizes, 
after extracting, in a week or two. Very 
