“Andromeda (a scraggy shrub of the heath family) blooms in the central
northwestern part of Florida for about four weeks in March and early
April; yielding but little, three years out of four. The honey, too, is
reddish yellow, thick and pungent, not very valuable as a surplus honey
plant.”--E. G. Baldwin, Gleanings, March 15, 1911.
AMERICAN ALOE, see Century Plant.
AMERICAN CRAB APPLE, see Crab Apple.
AMERICAN IVY, see Virginia Creeper.
ANAQUA, see Knockaway.
ANGLEPOD, see Bluevine.
APPLE (Malus).
America’s best and most widely used fruit is the apple. It is a native
of Asia, but as a cultivated fruit is grown in most of the temperate
regions of the world. Hundreds of varieties have been developed by
plant breeders until there are few horticulturists who are familiar
with them all. They range in size from the small cultivated crab-apples
not more than an inch in diameter to the big Wolf River, often five or
more inches in diameter. Some varieties are hard and sour and suitable
for little else than making cider, while others are of the finest
quality.
There is no more beautiful sight than an orchard in bloom in spring.
The blossoms secrete nectar freely and in favorable weather the bees
fairly swarm over them. The honey is light amber in color and of good
quality. The trees bloom so early that it is of greatest value to
stimulate spring brood-rearing, though strong colonies easily store
surplus when the weather is suitable for the bees to fly freely during
the period of bloom. Large orchardists often offer inducements to
beekeepers to locate near their orchards for the better pollination of
the fruit blossoms which results from the presence of large numbers of
bees. In orchard districts there is frequently complaint on the part of
the beekeepers that the bees are killed by the application of poisonous
spray while the trees are in bloom. When American beekeepers learn to
winter their colonies in such a manner as to maintain a reasonable
strength in early spring, surplus honey in quantity may be expected
from the orchard districts in favorable seasons. The weather is often
too wet or too cold for the bees to fly during apple blossom, and this
condition the apiarist can never overcome.
APOCYNUM, see Dogbane.
APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca).
The apricot is a well known cultivated fruit, somewhat intermediate
between the plum and peach. It blooms very early in spring and is
valuable as a source of early nectar and pollen. It is grown in large
acreage in some portions of California, where it is regarded as
valuable, by the beekeepers.
ARBUTUS (Epigaea repens). Trailing Arbutus or Ground Laurel.
A trailing plant with evergreen leaves. The rose colored flowers,
in small clusters, appear in early spring. They are fragrant and
attractive to the bees. There is an occasional report to the effect
that arbutus is valuable to the bees as a source of early nectar.
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS, see Manzanita.
ARIZONA BUCKTHORN, see Gum Elastic.
ARIZONA--Honey Sources of.
The sources of our honey are the desert flora and cultivated crops,
chiefly alfalfa. A few of the principal producing plants and their
seasons are as follows:
Time of Blooming.
Mesquite (=Prosopia velutina=) April-July
Screw Bean (=Prosopis pubescens=) April-July
Catsclaw (=Acacia greggii=) May-June
Acacia (=Acacia constricta=) June
Paloverde (=Parkinsonia torreyana=) May
Desert flora (=Miscellaneous=) Depending upon rainfall
Alfalfa (=Medicago sativa=) April-September
The wild honey plants, because of grazing animals and of wood-cutters,
have greatly decreased within recent years. The area in alfalfa, on
the other hand, is constantly increasing; but without a corresponding
increase in honey-producing power. This is due to two principal causes:
Farmers are now cutting alfalfa for hay at a much earlier stage in its
growth than formerly, not allowing the plant to come into full bloom;
and the alfalfa butterfly (=Colias eurytheme=), has so increased in
numbers since 1895, that the honeyflow, which used to continue well
into September, is now cut short in July. It is difficult to state the
net effect of these changes upon the producing power of the country
as a whole; but in Salt River Valley, under present conditions,
judging from the shipments made during the last few years, our present
irrigated areas, with adjoining desert tracts, are pretty fully stocked
with bees. Other parts of the territory are as yet less thoroughly
occupied.--R. H. Forbes, University of Arizona. “Timely Hints for
Farmers,” No. 46.
ARKANSAS--Honey Sources of.
White clover is the source of some surplus in Arkansas, although it is
too far south for such heavy yields as occur in the northern part of
the range of this plant. Sweet clover is valuable in some localities.
Tupelo, holly, blackgum, redbud, locust, tulip-poplar, blackberry,
heartsease and asters are the important sources of nectar. Cotton
yields in some sections of the State. Fruit bloom is valuable in
spring, and where colonies are sufficiently strong some surplus may be
expected.
ARTICHOKE, see Sunflower.
ASCLEPIAS, see Milkweed.