Resources of Honey, Etc.
I am told that everything that has thorns on it produces honey, and if
that be the case, there are but few shrubs that do not furnish honey.
West of this place, for 40 miles, or as far as I have been out, it is
thickly covered with shrubs, vines, etc., not much taller than one’s
head, and I will name a few for the benefit of bee-keepers who might
wish to make inquiry.
Catclaw is very thick in places, so thick that cattlemen sometimes have
to pay Mexicans a big price to go into the catclaw brush and “round
out” their cattle. “Waheeah” is another sticky brush that is very
plentiful, and a good honey-producer. “Wesach” is about the earliest
bloom we have--now ready to bloom--and fine for bees. Then we have
black and white chapparal, both good for bees. Mesquite is here in
abundance, and also yields honey, and there are a great many other
plants that yield honey that I know no name for.
And now, while the honey-producing plants have thorns, the bee-keeper
feels some of them, in the way of drouths, skunks, cutting ants,
moth-worms, and other drawbacks; but if one will make up his mind to
overlook these troubles, he will find this a fine bee-country.