391
Bee botany and entomology
SYMPHORICARPUS, 
A. I. Root:- Enclosed find specimens of a shrub
which grows in profusion here, in clearings, pastures, and waste places, where the land remains
uncultivated for some time. It is very hardy, and
grows from 2 to 4 ft. high, according to the soil. It
is known as the buck berry bush; I suppose, from
the fact that deer and sheep subsist largely upon
the berries, which it yields in large quantities, and
which hang on till late in spring. They are of a
bright red color, of the size of grains of pop corn.
Every twig is clustered with the crimson fruit, its
entire length, and presents a very ornamental appearance, at a season when nature generally wears
a somber aspect. By the casual observer, the flowers, which are very small and attractive, would
be passed unnoticed, but for the swarm of bees
which cover them from sunrise till nearly dark,
making merry music all day long. To me, there is
no sweeter sound than the song of bees as they joyously flit from flower to flower, or wing their way to
and from the hive. These homely little blossoms
furnish but little pollen; it must be nectar for which
the bees continually visit them. Right here is an
example of the beautiful compensating laws of
nature. An humble bloom, by the sweets which its
hidden nectaries secrete, attracts a myriad of gaily
colored insects and bees of every tribe, from the
great bumble bee to tiny, green and golden insects,
the golden-banded Italians appearing like so many
pendant jewels as they swing upon the flowers, and
make vocal the air with chimes of insect melody;
and thus a grotto of loveliness is disclosed to view,
which otherwise might appear tame and dull.
The shrub has furnished a constant succession of

bloom for over 6 weeks, and will bloom for several
weeks yet. The amount of honey in each flower is
small, but, as in the white clover, the supply is constant and the quality good. Here, uninvited and
without coaxing, it has taken its stand with our best
honey producing plants. The only cultivation I give
it is, to clear away other shrubs and timber; it takes
possession, and holds it ever after. I believe it will
pay for cultivation. I have never heard it mentioned as a honey plant or seen it outside of this state.
If you do not have it in Ohio, I will send you a few
plants, by mail, this autumn, for your honey garden.
or more by express, if you say so. The plant is very
ornamental in winter, on account of its profusion
of crimson berries. I prize it for its honey, and the
forage it furnishes in winter for stock. Plants can
be produced from seed, but plants that will bloom the first season are better.
Warsaw, Mo., Aug. 9, 1879. W. C. SMITH.

Answer by Prof. W. J. Beal of Michigan Agricultural College.
This is Symphoricarpus vulgaris (Indian currant, or coral-berry). I received it, a few days ago, from another source in the southwest. The sender said it was a fine bee plant. It is a plant of the honeysuckle family.

A NEW SPECIES OF MILKWEED.
Enclosed are the leaves and flowers of a plant, a
single specimen of which I found several years ago,
growing wild on rolling and rather dry ground. I
transplanted it to my dooryard, where it has continued to thrive and blossom every year, and is very
much frequented by bees. It grows about 2-1/2 ft. high and branches out into an umbrella shaped top,
which, from July 1st to about the 10th of Aug., is
covered with blossom, of a dark orange color. It has
a straight, spindle shaped root, snow white, 3 in. in
diameter at the surface of the ground, and 2-1/2 in. at
a depth of 2 1-2 feet. J. S. PIERCE.
Granger, Medina Co., O., Aug. 1879.
We sent the specimen to Prof. Beal who kindly replies as follows:
This is a species of Asclepias (milkweed) which is
everywhere well known as good for bees, though
this species I have never met before. W. J. BEAL.
Ag. Col., Lansing, Mich.

GERMANDER.
I send you a honey plant which blooms from 3 to 4
weeks. Please send me the name of it.
East Mo., Aug. 11, '79. W. F. STEWART.

Answer by Prof. W. J. Beal.
This is Teucrium Canadense (Germander), and
comes to me several times a year, as a good plant
for honey. It thrives along river bottoms, and is
freely visited by bees. The plant is quite common

at Lansing, Michigan. It belongs to the mint family,
a large one, all or nearly all of which are good bee
plants; as, catmint, peppermint, spearmint, pycnanthemum, thyme, sage, bergamot, skull cap, hoarhound, motherwort, and others. Wherever they
grow in quantity, as all of them do in places, there
bees thrive.