The herald., 1897-10-27
!; EUCALYPTUS FOR BEE FEED ;
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Mr. Howard Reynolds inquiry about
the best eucalypti for five acre planta-
ton for bees at Miramar was answered
by Prof. Cook in The Herald of October
14th.
The professor published list of eu-
calypti as appropriate for planting for
this purpose at Miramar, together with
some remarks on the species in the list
which he said were largely planted here
and stating the blooming time of all the
species of eucalyptus to be in winter.
Professor Cook was doubtless misin-
formed by a list made by some careless
person. 1t is a list not suited to Califor-
mia. The errors in the names are prob
ably typographical, as "Amygalina''
twice instead of "Amygdalina," cabbage
gum instead of mama gum, etc.
These errors are not of Importance,
but the value of certain species of euea-
lyptus for bee feed at difficult times in
the year makes the correction of other
errors in the professors answer of inter-
est. In the first place. very few Of the
species named in his list can be had
here without purchase of Australian
seed. Australian seed is extremely un-
reliable as to little used species. While
some of these species named are growing
in California our best informed nursery
men would probably be unable to recog-
nize them without some special eucalyp-
tus book. Some of those named, like "E.
Gemiphloia," are so subject to damp
off, ETC., in the seed box that they are of
little practical value to us. The pro-
fessor says that e. Amygdalina, Elongi-
folia and E. Nostrata are much grown
here. This is inaccurate. E. Amygda-
.lina is only planted in scattering orna-
mental way. 1t has five distinct forms
here, some of which will doubtless be
finally deemed separate species. These
are not only different in appearance, but
also vary in their adaptability to places.
The typical amygdalina is one of the
least vigorous of the genus in California,
while the variety augustifolia generally
does well, though it is often of stunted
growth. Besides this uncertainty, the
leaves and flowers Of all the varieties Of
amygdalina contain a peculiarly pun
gent peppery Oil of so marked a flavor
as to endanger the quality of honey
made from it, The oil from these vari-
eties contains no eucalyptol, which is re-
placed in them by Phellandrine.
The Amygdalinas, like many other eu-
calypti, have several seasons Of bloom
ing every year and are by no means
confined to the winter; others again,
bloom but once and then in the spring
and not in the winter. E. rostrata and
e. tereticarius. named in the list, are
only planted in a scattering way. These
two species possess peculiar quality Of
oil different in one essential flavor from
all others. This popularity is deemed
to be due to valalderhyde. At times in
the blooming season quantities of dead
bees are found under these two species
of eucalyptus and under these alone. At
other times and in a general way no
danger to bees seems to exist from these
flowers. Whether, indeed, the flowers of
these trees ever injure bees Is uncertain,
but the fact that at times great mortal
ity of bees occurs near or under these
two species would. without further in
formation, exclude them from a bee
mans list of species to plant
e. longifolia is not extensively planted
here, as reported. On the contrary, it
is very rare tree in our eucalyptus
plantation. The best trees for bee men
amongst the eucalypti depend on con-
dition. The soil and climate are i'm
portant in selecting species and after
that come the resources of the trees
the times of blooming Of other flowers
and the desirability of having some of
these, like the orange, left with no offer
ings of other attractions during the
orange blooming time, so that the honey
would be exclusively from that flower.
The following list is, from my obser-
walton, good for the coast climate of
Southern California: e. globulus, COM
mon blue gum. This is a fast grower,
a free bloomer, with large Towering
surface. It's blooming time is generally
from November to the end of March. 1t
is easy to get, cheap to plant and hardy
all along the coast. There is a strong
eucalyptus flavor in this tree. Honey
with this eucalyptus flavor has sold for
a fancy price in London on the ground
that it was healthy.
E. sideraxlow has it's principal bloom
ing time in the late spring and early
summer. There are several varieties of
this tree. those with pink flowers be-
ing here free boomers. 1t is hardy in
our climate and a fair grower, with a
good surface for flowers. 1t has a euca-
~ ptuS iidNOI, less StIOuS tHdu Tie Ulue
gum. One fine variety of this tree is
growing in quantity at Hon. Ellwood
Cooper's, at Santa Barbara. This one
has dark green leaves and pink flowers.
The variety called "pallida" has silvery
leaves and is very ornamental with it's
bright pink flowers. This tree can be
seen at the Pasadena nursery, South Pas
adena. In July and August the prin-
cipal blooming Of E. cornuta occurs
It's flowers are frequented by bees. The
Seventh street boulevard at Santa Mon
lea is planted with this species at the
West End. Its ecalyptus flavor is
mild. E. cornuta is a vigorous and
hardy tree on the coats. About the end
of August the e. corynocalyx or sugar
gum has a free blooming time. 1t is
then a great favorite with the bees. It
is an attractive and hardy tree with a
good surface. Nursery men know this
tree. The sugar gum usually continues
towering through October and often
into November There is scarcely any
eucalyptus flavor in this tree. Com
mencing in October, or about that time,
several species have a good blooming
time. Amongst these are e. robusta and
e. calophylla, both very handsome
trees, and known to nurserymen. Both
of these have practically no eucalyptus
flavor. This list completes the seasons
and gives bee feed at all periods of the
year.
All Of the trees named except E.
globulus have several blooming times
~ tho uoar Tho hloornipo t;y,o of