The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-15
POPLAR AS A HONEY PLANT.

1t is hardly necessary to give any
description of this greatest nectar
yielder, as every man, woman and
child recognizes it as honey plant.
1t does grow everywhere, but is
mostly found along our smallest
streams and dry branches, bitches,
Sullics and even the very smallest
little drains
However, tho trees will grow large
er in the richer soil especially in
bottoms and springy wet places.
Some trees will reach enormous
growth, five and six feet in diameter
ana such trees have great value for
lumber and the saw mill men are
logging our country all the time for
this particular tree After it reach
es mature growth it has u large, long
straight trunk, with only few large
limbs as top, but while it is grow
ing to maturity ii has almost innum-
cradle numbers OF small limbs.
which stand out from the small trunk
IN almost q perfect oval shape, MAX
ing 1t easy to distinguish from all
other trees. It's foliage is dense and
very green which makes it a heavy
bloomer. The blooms form at the end
or each thrifty twig, at the close of its
spring growth, and only one on the
cnd or each twig, which is about one
inch in diameter when fully opened.
with large petals, and on the inside
of these is found the nec;ar standing
IN large drops about midway. at
which place each petal has Il dim red
spot.
Some of this nectar remains with
them for several days, if the rain does
not wash it off. You can pick the pet
ais up after they fail to the ground
and. taste and see the nectar in them.
The first blooms will appear I'm the
very tops of the trees. then gradual
~ the blooms will appear lower un-
I'll thoSe on the bottom limbs are all
finally opened ard in this way this
source lasts, for thirty days or more.
1t begins blooming in the south
ern region about April 10th and 80
days later it has boomed all the way
up the country and reached the Blue
Ridge section and about May lst it
: begins blooming there, and lasts IN
until June, beginning first, at the
loot OF the mountains ana then on up
as the season advances towards the
highest points.
1t does not grow much above the
mid way point Of mountain, but i'm the
! mountain sections it grows every
where as well as along streams.
while in the Piedmont section it fol-
lows up the water courses. and is the
| m II I,
| IS concerned, for most or the land
/ IS III cultivation except in such plac-
! eS. Its honey has very heavy body
/ dark amber in color except in the Blue
/ RlCGc section. there il is very light
amber and has n very mild rich
! flavor
| All through the Piedmont section
there are thousands of springs of very.
ine water and a few large Donlar
trees mark the sites of many of these
springs, The weary, thirsty traveller
!3 led TO them in this way.
On this point heard u traveller rc-
Iatc his experience once. He was
travelling through this section. tired
hungry and thirsty; he saw a large
poplar tree in the distance, and he
made his way to it; knowing that no
would find spring of water at its
baSe, and on reaching it he not only
found a great spring OF cool refresh.
ing water, sparkling with purity but
also a jug of good, rich butermilk
and large dish of butter, which tho
farmers wife who lived some distance
ahovc in the field, had placed there to
cool for dinner.
The proper thing TO do soon suc~
gcSted itself to him, and he and his
pal drank the milk. filing the irs
with water and placing it just as they
found it. They had some bread they
had bought few hours previous NJ
the last station passed on the road
ON this they spread the butter heavy
and then and there had a great feast
and went on their Journey. greatly
rcfreshed.-DiXie Heckeeper.