RAGWEED. (Ambrosia) Small green flowers pollinated by the wind; valuable in the late summer and fall for their abundant supply of pollen. The most common species are A. artemisiaefolia and A. trifida.
SORGHUM. (Sorghum vulgare) Pollen very abundant, of importance in certain localities where grown for sorghum sirup.
PLANTS THAT YIELD NECTAR.
A honey plant may be defined as a plant which secretes neotar accessible to honeybees, in quantities large enough to be of practical importance to the beekeeper. If a list of all plants that possibly secrete nectar were desired it would be necessary to enumerate hundreds of species; but few of them are of practical importance in bee culture. Many of them are rare, others grow in deep recesses of swamps and forests. Many a beginner in beekeeping has fondly imagined that his flower garden would supply his bees with a rich harvest, wholly unconscious that the gaudy exotics of cultivation are often nearly or quite nectarless. In the following list the most important nectar plants found in Wisconsin at present, either wild or cultivated, are briefly described and explained.
ALFALFA. (Medicago sativa) One of the most important honey plants in the irrigated regions of the West. Is not of great importance in Wisconsin at the present time. If seed production is ever followed out in Wisconsin alfalfa may become an important honey plant.
AISIKE CLOVER. (Trifolium hybridum) This is a perennial quite similar to white-clover except in size. Cultivated extensively, usually together with timothy for hay. Flowers are white, tipped with pink, to pink. Yields nectar from May to October, but especially in June and July. The honey obtained is usually slightly darker than from white-clover.