The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-29
Honey Plants.
TALON, in N. o. Times.


The mulberry is planted and cult
waited solely Stor the silk WORM IN
leaves are gathered with pains an
expense for the purpose OF nourIsf
ING these worms to obtain SILK; Du
bees, on the contrary, save all sue
trouble-that Of cultivaring plant
for their wants as during til
spring, summer and fall months o"
fields are covered with all kinds o
honey-secreting flowers, and we los
this delicious nectar by lack o
having enough bees to gather it.
will not enunciate all the honey
secreting plants. as nearly all flower
ING trees and shrubs of the Vegeta
BILE kingdom yield honey and pollen
but will mention only the more I'M
portant from which bees gather their
supplies.
In stating the, time Of blooming OF
the following plants, may be little
out of the way, having not had Suffl
Gent leisure time todevote person
al observation, therefore, had to de-
mend on information procured from
others.
The early blossoming of the will.
lows gives them special value to
the bee-keeper, as they abound both
inlpollen and; honey OF fine quality
Our swamps are rich in several va
rieties of willows which begin to
bloom in the latter part of February
and last for nearly one month. The
honey gathered is mostly used by the
bees for brood rearing. The peach,
nectarine, plum, pear, apple, and the
wild cherry will afford early supplies
to the bees, and will greatly help (
them for large increase, and shonld
the weather be favorable, a lair
amount of honey is gathered from
them. 1t is a fine sight, indeed, In
the morning to see the bees soaring
around their brilliant blossoms, IN
search of the precious nectar.
White clover is one of the most !
important plants, and one of our
main dependencies as a honey-pro-
ducing plant, and the source from
which bees derive most OF their sup
plies. 1t grows and fourishes all
over this country and will always |
yield a superior honey, and in protu'
sion, if the weather is favorable, with
an occasional shower. The honey !
gathered FROM IL is pure and white,
and generally commands the highest
market prices. 1t blooms from Feb
ruary to July in this latitude. Where
clover is abundant there are never
enough bees to gather one-halt the
honey it affords.
The dandelion is also one of our
finest flowers in the spring, which
furnishes honey and pollen, when the
WELD from fruit trees is nearly over,
and its conspicuous yellow blossoms
are literally covered with bees from
their disappearance.
The poplar, or tulip tree, also
known as white wood, is said TO be
one Of the greatest honey-producing
trees in the world. 1t is a very fine
tree, attaining the height of 100 feet,
covered with rich foliage and with
arge yellow blossoms from the middle
OF april to near the middle of May
from which bees gather bounteous
amnunt of honey of fine color, thick
and of good flavor.
The black locust is a very goo(
honey-yielding tree, and affords
supply of fine honey for several day
in April; also the yellow and whit
locust which bloom at about the sam
time, give very often good help t
the bees. When the locusts are i
bloom they are covered with bee
during the whole day, and the apair
is pertumed with it.
In June we have very often fiji
supply OF honey from the prickly as
or tooth. ache tree which, when
< bloom, is literally covered with un
~