FALSE ACACIA: ONE OF MANY NEW WORLD FRENCH CONNECTIONS  The "acacia" 
flow is over here in southern France. As is done each year, beekeepers 
are now estimating how good the final crop will be. This is one of the 
finest of Provençal honeys and commands a premium price in most markets. 
The plant is grown all across Europe as well. I remember during the 
Hungarian Apimondia meeting in 1983, when participants were given a tour 
of the acacia groves there. It was the only time I have ever seen a 
program designed to systematatically improve nectar production in a 
plant. At that time, Hungarians were attempting to both increase nectar 
secretion and timber quality from this important plant. Thus, I was 
pleased to see my plant friend again when I came to France. The story of 
this plant is admirably told in the 1978 edition of the /Bulletin 
Technique Apicole/, published by O.P.I.D.A (L'office pour l'information 
et la documentation en apiculture). It is "Fiche Technique" found in 
Volume 5 (No. 4), pp. 33-40, authored by J. Albisetti.

Imagine the surprise of a newcomer here from the United States, 
therefore, upon discovering this plant isn't "acacia" at all. It's 
really "false acacia," /Robinia pseudacacia/, and wonder of wonders, was 
originally transported around the world from its native habitat in the 
Allegany and Appalachian mountains. The King's gardener, J. Robin, 
introduced the plant to France in 1601. It is in fact known as "black 
locust" in its native regions, I was informed by Steve Taber, who 
recently left France to return to his southern roots. It is the same 
plant I remember growing on the high banks of the Ohio River where the 
old National Road crosses that waterway at Wheeling, West Virginia.

The "robiniers" as they are called here in France are in the rose order 
and legume family. Three species of the twenty that exist worldwide have 
been naturalized in the country. In general, they are not well exploited 
by bees because of their early and short flowering time. I remember the 
black locust flow as notoriously unpredictable and tempermental on the 
banks of the Ohio. The later it flowers in France, the more nectar 
collecting possibilities occur, about 7.5 percent increase per day 
delayed, according to the article. The French are also aware of the 
history of their Hungarian cousins in culturing the acacia, and data 
show that a silvo-apicultural program is possible here too, the article 
concludes.

-- 
Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford
Apis Enterprises
352-336-9744
http://beeactor.vze.com

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