This message was originally submitted by [log in to unmask] to the BEE-L list at LISTSERV.ALBANY.EDU. It was edited to remove quotes of previouslu posted material. ----- Original message (ID=55615A17) (79 lines) -------- From: "Jeffrey A. Holbrook" <[log in to unmask]> To: "'Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology'" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: [BEE-L] White Melilot Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 19:59:15 -0500 Peter, I live in upstate NY also. The reason alfalfa is typically not a good honey plant is the fact that it is typically cut just prior to the flowers blooming. That is when it is highest in TDN, total digestible nutrients. Not good for the bees because they usually won't work the sparse flowers that are missed on the edges of the fields. If for some reason, weather or health of the owner or field workers for example, delay harvest until after the alfalfa has bloomed then you may see a great yeild from large fields of this plant. Conversely, the Red and Alsike Clovers planted in this area are highest in TDN, after the flowers have wilted and have turned brown. For this reason, clover is a good honey plant, at least around here. As for white sweet clover, it was a banned plant in this area back in the early 1900's. Originally, it was promoted as a soil improver as it's roots grow deep. This gives it the property of loosening up compacted soil or so it was claimed. Some would say that starving cows would not eat it but others claimed the opposite. It's seeds need to be roughly abraided to germinate successly, ergo, one most often sees this and the Yellow Sweet Clover growing along rural roadsides. In my area at least, there is enough of this that the bees will work this plant when it is in flower. The flowers of the sweet clovers open in succession from bottom to top, taking a few weeks, so the bees have a lot of time to get at this. They will go off of it if something else is more abundant. At least that has been my experience. Jeff Holbrook East Corning, NY