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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
j h & e mcadam <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 6 Sep 1998 21:48:38 +0900
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Richard H. Glassford II wrote:
>
>I was reading in our local paper the following article. "Don't put your
>honey where your mouth is".  In the article it advises consumers not to
>purchase honey from backyard bee keepers.  The article mentioned that
>the suburban landscape may have flowers that produces poisonous honey.
>The following plants were listed as causing problems: rhododendrons,
>azaleas, jessamine, strawberry trees, melaleuca trees, agave plants or
>privet.  Is this true?
 
I think this is a case of those opposed to back yard beekeepers attempting
to manipulate public opinion.  There is a reference to poisonous honey
obtained from rhododendrons and  mountain laurel in the ABC and XYZ of
Beekeeping but the evidence is anecdotal and has not been chemically
analysed (in my edition anyway).
 
Bees kept in suburban areas have access to a very wide variety of nectar
sources and the honey is not a pure varietal - in the early days of
settlement in Adelaide it was labelled as a garden source and was prized for
its taste, being a darker type honey.  I do migrate hives to melaleuca
sources (there are many, many types of melaleucas).  Bees do very well on
them because there is generally good quality pollen as well as nectar.  I do
note that if the season is dry the melaleuca may blossom but the bees will
simply ignore them so presumably the nectar is rationed in the interests of
survival of the tree.
 
Certainly the pure melaleuca honeys are very popular with honey buyers -
again they are darker with a full bodied flavour but not bitter.
 
It might be interesting to attempt to trace the source of these rumours.
 
Betty McAdam
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
J.H. & E. McAdam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.kin.on.net/hogbay/hogbay1.htm
 
Why not visit the South Australian Superb Websites Ring?
http://kw.mtx.net/sawebring/sawebring.html

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