The Sources of Nectar and Pollen.

Cultivation of plants for nectar. The beekeeper does not cultivate anything especially for his bees. Numerous experiments have been carried on to prove this point by various beekeepers in the United States and elsewhere. The beekeeper depends upon other sources for his bees to gather nectar from. Many plants are nectar producers that may be grown with profit by the farmer and also be available for the beekeeper. (see pollination of clover) Two good examples of such crops as grown by the farmer in Wisconsin is alsike-clover and buckwheat. Alsike-clover is perhaps the foremost cultivated honey-plant in Wisconsin. White-clover, although being an excellent honey-plant, is not to be considered under cultivated plants in the same sense as alsike-clover, for the reason that it will appear in pastures without actually seeding it, and will continue, whereas alsike-clover must be re-seeded in order to insure the best results in the way of a hay crop or available nectar as a honey source. Beekeepers can often materially improve their ranges by encouraging farmers in the neighborhood to grow alsike-clover. Oftentimes the beekeeper might derive a profit by purchasing seed and inducing the farmers to include it in their pasture or hay mixtures. The amount of seed needed to include in a hay or pasture mixture is not great and the profits derived from the nectar secured by the bees from this source might be great indeed. Many farmers perhaps do not include alsike-clover in their pasture or hay mixture because they have not been properly educated to its value, or that the seed is unavailable at the time when they are ready to do their seeding. If the beekeeper makes it known that he is willing and ready to furnish such