In the first volume of American Bee Journal, published in 1861, appears
a plea for the publication of a volume devoted to the honey flora of
America. In numerous instances since that time, writers have mentioned
the great need of a work of this kind. In common with other students
of beekeeping, the author came to feel this lack in our beekeeping
literature. This book is an attempt to fill that need. It is to be
expected that the first work on this great subject will overlook many
things which should have been included and that numerous errors should
creep in. In an attempt to gather the desired material, the author has
visited the important beekeeping regions from the Atlantic Coast to
California and from Canada to Florida and Texas. Careful notes have
been made of the honey plants of each section as indicated by the many
beekeepers with whom the author has come in contact. To this multitude
of beekeepers who have thus assisted by furnishing notes of this kind
the author is greatly indebted.
The literature of beekeeping has been carefully examined for references
to honey plants, and hundreds of quotations appear in the text. The few
bulletins which have appeared on the subject have been quoted freely,
as well as similar material appearing in the bee magazines.
The illustrations are for the most part from the author’s original
photographs, although a number have been borrowed from the American
Bee Journal, which appeared in that publication, from John H. Lovell,
Homer Mathewson, J. M. Buchanan, M. C. Richter, C. D. Stuart, Florida
Photographic Concern, Wesley Foster, W. A. Pryal, and some others, the
identity of the originator of which are lost.
Since most of the readers of this book will be men who are not
accustomed to botanical classification, it has been thought best
to treat each plant under the name by which it is most widely
known, giving other names as cross references, and to treat all in
alphabetical order. Numerous related subjects which seemed to have a
place in a book of this kind, such as nectar and nectar secretion,
poisonous honey, propolis, pollination, weather and honey production,
etc., have been likewise included in proper alphabetical order.
No one is likely to be more conscious of the shortcomings of the volume
than is the author. As it is his hope to expand the scope of the work
in a later edition, he will be grateful for notes on additions and
corrections from all parts of America.