K
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KANSAS—Honey Sources of.
Sweet clover probably ranks first as a honey plant in Kansas. It yields surplus honey from east to west in the State and succeeds on high, dry land as well as in the river valleys. In some parts of the State, surplus honey is secured from no other crop. In the Arkansas Valley alfalfa is also important and yields freely. Hoarhound, heartsease and wild sunflowers also yield surplus. White clover is uncertain in most of Kansas and only yields honey occasionally under favorable conditions. The Arkansas Valley is excellent beekeeping territory and the yields there compare favorably with the best elsewhere. The first nectar comes from soft maples in late February or March. Elms furnish early pollen and willows along the streams furnish both nectar and pollen. There are many orchards in Kansas and fruit bloom is important, surplus occasionally being gathered from apple blossoms. Horsemint is important in the southern part of the State, as high as 50 pounds per colony of surplus being reported from this source.
KENTUCKY—Honey Sources of.
H. R. Niswonger, in Circular 69, Extension Division of the College of Agriculture, gives the following as important sources of nectar in Kentucky:
“Fruit trees and bush fruits of considerable importance, sometimes yielding surplus.
“Crimson clover, very important, coming before white clover.
“Alsike clover, comparing well with the yield from white clover.
“White clover usually yields a heavy surplus.
“Red clover, sometimes worked by bees on second blooming.
“Sweet clover, one of the most important, blooming for four weeks or more.
“Sour-wood, one of the principal sources in the mountain sections.
“Linden, also important in mountain sections.
“Buckwheat, important, coming when there is a dearth of other plants in bloom.
“Goldenrod yields an abundance of nectar.
“Aster yields in late autumn, often sufficient to carry the bees through the winter, sometimes some surplus, also.
“Many forest trees infested with plant lice yield large quantities of honeydew.”
In addition to the above list the following are taken from a contribution to American Bee Journal by Mr. N. P. Allen, of Smith’s Grove, Kentucky:
“Elm, elder, hazel and willow for early pollen.
“Maples.
“Red-bud or Judas tree.
“Black locust.
“Blackberry and raspberry.
“Poplar (tulip-tree), begins to bloom about the middle of May and yields more honey than any forest tree.
“Prickly ash and sumac.
“Yellow-wood and coral berry in July.”
KINNIKINICK (Rhus virens).
Kinnikinick is a sumac which grows from the Colorado River to the Rio Grande and westward. The Indians and Mexicans mix the leaves with tobacco and smoke them. It grows in large quantity in the hills some distance north of Uvalde, Texas, and blooms from September till frost, with sufficient rain. Local beekeepers report that as high as sixty pounds of honey per colony is sometimes secured from this source. The honey is said to be green in color, with a rank, strong taste, and does not granulate. The combs are capped very white when the bees are working on kinnikinick. This should not be confused with the species of dogwood which is also commonly called by the same name. There are several species of sumac which are valuable honey plants. (See sumac; also dogwood).
KNAPWEED, see Star Thistle.
KNOCKAWAY or ANAQUA (Ehretia elliptica).
The anaqua is a common tree with small white flowers in open panicles and oval leaves, which is common from New Braunfels, Texas south to the lower Rio Grande. It is commonly reported as a valuable source of nectar by Texas beekeepers.