Pollination is the fertilization of the blossom of a plant, resulting
in the development of seed. As ordinarily used among the beekeepers,
pollination refers to the transfer of the pollen grains from the
stamens of one plant to the pistils of another. Since many plants
are self-sterile, it is necessary that pollen from other plants and
sometimes from other varieties be brought to them to insure fruitage.
As already stated under “Pollen,” the honeybee is the principal agent
in the pollination of many of the edible fruits.
So important is the bee regarded by horticulturists that cucumber
growers contract for colonies of bees to be placed in their
greenhouses, cherry growers often lease apiaries to be moved to their
orchards at the beginning of the blooming period, and apple orchardists
contract with beekeepers to furnish sufficient bees to insure
fertilization of their orchards.
Darwin was among the first to realize the importance of cross
pollination. He showed that continued self-fertilization resulted
in inferior fruit, while cross fertilization increased the vigor of
the offspring. Beach has shown that many varieties of grapes are
self-sterile, and at the California experiment station it was shown
that “bees are a necessary aid in pollination with the French and
Imperial varieties of prunes.” It was proven that practically no fruit
was produced when all pollen-carrying insects were kept from visiting
the blossoms. (Bulletin 291, California Experiment Station).
It has been shown by numerous experiments that many varieties of
fruits, especially of apples and pears, are likely to be unfruitful if
deprived of the services of the honeybee as pollen carriers.
POPLAR, see Tulip-Poplar, also Aspen.
[Illustration: Fig. 112. The California poppy is a gorgeous flower.]
POPPY (Papaver).
The garden poppy (=Papaver somniferum=) is a native of Asia, but is
widely cultivated in many countries, including our own. It is the
source of opium and morphine, drugs widely used in the practice of
medicine. The bright-colored flowers are very attractive to the bees,
which seek them in large numbers and fairly revel in the abundant
pollen masses. The pollen secured from poppy blossoms is very dark.
It is probable that the plant furnishes some nectar, also, and there
are numerous reports to the effect that the bees show evidence of a
narcotic when working on this plant.
The California poppy (=Eschscholtzia californica=) (Fig. 112) is a
common and widely diffused plant in California. It is a gorgeous plant
of variable habit, especially abundant in spring, but in some parts of
the State may be found in flower at almost any season. Richter lists
it as the source of some honey and of large amounts of orange-colored
pollen.
The prickly poppy (=Argemone=), often called poppy thistle, is widely
distributed, especially in the southwest. It is the source of large
quantities of pollen.
POPPY THISTLE, see Poppy.
POSSUM HAW, see Holly.
POSSUM-WOOD, see Persimmon.
PRAIRIE CLOVER (Petalostemon).
There are several species of prairie clover native to the western
prairies from Indiana west to the Rocky Mountains and south to Texas.
There are frequent reports to the effect that they are valuable honey
plants, though no longer sufficiently plentiful to be important except
in a few localities.
PRICKLY ASH (Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis). TOOTHACHE-TREE.
The prickly ash or toothache-tree is found from North Carolina to
Florida and west to Texas. It is a small tree with the bark armed with
short, warty thorns, while the branches have longer ones.
In east Texas it is frequently mentioned as a source of honey. The
honey is reported as pungent in taste, sharp and peppery and light in
color. The blossoms yield freely, and, where sufficiently abundant, may
be expected to yield surplus. At Palestine, Texas, surplus is reported
from prickly ash. (See also Colima).
[Illustration: Fig. 113. Blossom of the cactus or prickly pear.]
PRICKLY PEAR or INDIAN FIG (Opuntia).
Plants of the cactus family are widely scattered in the arid regions
from Dakota to Washington and south to Texas and California. (Figs. 114
and 115.) Of the prickly pears (=Opuntia=) there are about 150 species,
mostly found in the warmer sections of North America and southward. A
few are to be found in sandy soils further east, ranging from Ontario
and Massachusetts south to Florida. They are also sometimes grown
as ornamentals. The blossom of the prickly pear is of pale yellow
color and very attractive. (Fig. 113.) It is reported as a source of
nectar in both Texas and California. =Opuntia engelmanni= is reported
by Scholl in “Honey Plants of Texas,” as “of much importance to the
beekeeper, especially during a season of partial drought. Both an
abundance of pollen and honey was obtained, the honey being light amber
in color, of heavy body but ‘stringy,’ so much so that it fairly draws
out into strings when very thick. The flavor is very rank.”
[Illustration: Fig. 114. In parts of Texas the land is covered with
cactus as far as the eye can see.]
In some parts of the Southwest it is valued more for pollen than for
nectar. Beginning in July, it blooms for four to six weeks. E. G.
LeStourgeon reports that in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, it
yields surplus honey about one year in four, but that the flow is
usually short, seldom more than four or five days. A peculiarity of
this honey is that of granulating in large crystals in clear liquid. It
is often spoken of as “buttermilk honey,” because of this peculiarity.
LeStourgeon secured an average yield of 87 pounds per colony of
cactus honey in Atascosta County. Such yields from this source are
rare. Cactus grows in great abundance over large areas of Texas and is
probably of more importance to beekeepers in that State than in any
other.
[Illustration: Fig. 115. A single plant of prickly pear near
Brownsville, Texas.]
PRICKLY POPPY, see Poppy.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--Honey Sources of.
Alsike and white clover are the principal honey plants of the Island,
with =Tilia europea= also important at Charlottetown.--F. W. L. Sladen.