The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-19
N
Honey Plants.


same locality plant that will one sea
son produce an abundance OF honey
NAV produce nothing the next year.
The cause Of this is supposed to be
atmospheric influence.
Extreme aridity seems to he fatal to
the production OF honey. Extreme
humidity, with cold, seems to be
nearly as fatal, but in certain degree
OF humidity, in connection with a
high temperature, gives the best re-
suits. Some plants are less affected
in this way than others. Trees Of all
kinds that produce honey are OF this
class, and it is accounted for from the
following facts: Their roots are deep
in the soil; sudden drouth does not
in the least retard their growth or
vitality: their foliage in a great meas
ure protects their flowers from the
rays of the sun, and where in forests
of any size are also protected from
the drying winds.
Among the best honey plants are
those with pendant flowers. They
are thus protected from the loss of
honey by rain or dew. The most
prominent Of this class is the bass
wood or linden, and where there are
large forests of it, it seldom fails Of
Welding abundance of honey. Some
times it will fail, however, by the fruit
buds being winter killed.
Buckwheat, as an annual plant, III
some localities, is among the very
best to yield honey, but here, in Kan
sas, it is not very certain to produce
either honey or seed. Notwithstand-
ing this uncertainty. however it is
probably one OF the most profitable
honey plants to grow in this State.
It should be sown SO as to come in
bloom as late in the season rs posi-
BILE, and ripen its seed before frost.
We had a field one season that was
sown very late. Frost came remark
ably late that fall. and the first week
in October the bees stored more honey
from the buckwheat than they had
done the balance of the season.
1t is not usual that the frost holds
off so late, and the best time to SOW
is from the middle Of July to the first
of August. You will then stand a
chance to get Il fair crop, both OF
honey and seed, but ii sown early in
the season there is very slim chance
for either.
1t is considered a settled fact that
it will not pay to grow anything
alone for honey, especially if it has
to becultivated or needs to be planted
every year.
Alsike clover is claimed to be one
OF the best of honey plants, and at
the same time it is just as good for
hay or pasture as the red clover, in
some respects even better, as it is
perennial. As to the honey produc-
ing qualities of the Alsike, it has
proved with us uncertain and unsat-
isfactory, owing to the aridity OF the
climate, locusts, dc. We think, how
ever, on the first poisoning of this
clover in June, it will give but q mod
crate yield Of honey, especially in an
arid climate like this, but when we
have late summer rains, SO as to pro-
duce good second crop, that will
blossom late in the fall, we max in
such cases generally expect large
Weld of honey.
Sumac is one OF our best honey
plants. The growth Ct this plant
might be encouraged in most places,
and we do not know why it would
not pay TO cultivate this piart for the
leaves for tanning purpose
We made an attempt last year 10
ascertain the relative value OF >umac
leaves, and the bark Of the hemlock.
in regard to their tanning qualities,
hnt we failed to get the information.
If the same price could be obtained
here for the leaves a is paid at tie
East for the imported leaves. We
thlnk 1t would be a profitable crop,
Tor some time, at least, to engage in,
and the honey would he clear gain.
Many superficial beekeepcrs sup
pose that whenever they see bee at
work there must he honey: therefore
many plants are supposed to be honey
plants that in reality produce nothing
but pollen, or bee-bread.
Many OF our forest trees produce
nothing but pollen, such as the oak
elm. cottonwood, willow, and many
others; while we have field plants
che same, prominent among which is
the corn, yielding pollen in great
abundance.
Sometimes bees may be seen gath
ering the louise secretions las Prof
Cook calls i'll, when, as is sometimes