I have chosen the above subjects for joint discussion because they naturally go together, In fact they cannot well be dealt with separately. Honey plants are the first essential of a satisfactory bee location.

California abounds in a very wide range of nectar producing flora, both as to variety and seasonal distribution. The nectar flow extends from January to October, or even later. Beginning with the willow and eucalyptus in January and terminating with the blue curl and sunflower in the late fall. The major honey plants upon which the beekeepers rely for a surplus are the orange, which blooms in April; the sage, from May till July; wild buckwheat, from June 15 to July 15, star thistle, July and August, and alfalfa in the interior valleys from May till September. A large number of plants, such as wild alfalfa, wild mustard, alfilaree and others too numerous to mention, sandwich in throughout the entire season, and although they seldom produce any surplus they serve as a source of pollen also early and later stimulation for the bees, which is very important. Peach, apricot, plum and other spring blooming fruit trees are a valuable asset to the beekeeper.

Fully half the honey produced in California Is from wild flowers, and therefore largely dependent upon adequate rainfall. A survey of the past twenty years will show that a successful crop from this source need not be looked for oftener than one year in three, or thereabout. The orange bloom, while not dependent upon rainfall, is very sensitive to other climatic conditions. It is seldom a total failure, but often a partial one. The orange has a freakish way of yielding well in one locality and doing nothing in another perhaps only a few miles distant due to a variety of causes. I should say that the orange flow is 75 per cent dependable. The alfalfa is the most reliable of all where it is far enough inland to escape the coast air. Imperial, Coachella and Yuma valleys, also Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, are famous alfalfa honey sections. The wild buckwheat and sages are widely distributed throughout the coast range from the Mexican border to Santa Clara county. The medium elevations are as a rule the most dependable. The buckwheat in the semi-arid sections on the desert side of the range frequently produce better than the coast side. It is a notable fact that many of the desert foothill sections are surprisingly good bee ranges even where it is difficult to get drinking water.

In the Sierra foothills of the central valley a fairly reliable surplus is obtained from manzanita and creeping sage. Farther north in the costal regions of Oregon and Washington the fireweed on the burned-over timberlands is the leading plant. In Central and Eastern Oregon and the irrigated valleys of Idaho, Utah and Nevada, sweet clover and alfalfa are the beekeepers best friends. In Arizona alfalfa and mesquite take the lead.

Now from the foregoing it is plain that there is no such thing as a bee location which combines all the desirable features and honey plants in one. So comes the migratory beekeeper, who moves his bees from place to place following up the flow. In Southern California the coast belt makes a good starting point. The willow, eucalyptus, fruit bloom, alfillera, mustard and other early vegetation start off early brood rearing. The orange belt furnishes the first chance of the season for surplus honey. The next hop is into the sage, then back to the valleys for the summer and fall. Many Utah and Idaho beemen ship by rail to and from Southern California to take advantage of our early spring for increasing also to avoid the heavy losses of their vigorous highland winter. The auto truck is the favorite means of transportation of our local migratory bee-keepers . It must not be inferred from the above that migratory beekeeping is universally practiced. Many yards are permanently located in the foothills. Their owners prefer to take their chance of a crop in one place, thereby avoiding the expense and labor of frequent moves which is no small item.

It should not be inferred by the amateur that his efforts will be a failure if he is not located where an abundance of the plants named abound. A few colonies of bees will live most anywhere and often produce a surplus but to the commercial producer the quantity and variety of honey plants is a matter of first importance.

Summing up, I want to emphasize a few points. In selecting a wild range give preference to the north slope; other things being equal it will not dry out so quickly. Water should be reasonably near, say within a half mile or closer. Precautions should be taken against fire after the grass becomes dry.

In selecting an alfalfa range bear in mind that you must get over the coast range away from the salt air.