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Hi Ron, thanks for the reply, including more useful information. The other reference you noted, ‘Some nectar characteristics of certain world honey sources’, is especially useful, as it separates out the sugar concentrations specifically. The stats that are presented as sugar value per flower are potentially misleading if they are based on individual florets of what can be large composite flowers, as of course the total nectar available will be determined by the number of the florets (as well as the nectar secretion rate). I am convinced of the value of sweet clover, and have grown both white and yellow types. Both grown well on roadsides in New Brunswick, but as far as beekeepers are concerned there is never enough of it. Last year I experimented with some sweet white, variety “Hubam” which is supposed to bloom in year one, but I think our season here is too short to allow for that, as mine did not.

In terms of comparing the nectar of Melilotus to apple, borage etc the data I was looking at is from Table 2.123 of Crane’s ‘Honey, A Comprehensive Survey’ that starts on p. 85. The data there are sugar values, or sugar secreted/24h. I think the apparently large discrepancy between Melilotus and the other species must be explained by the data being based on secretion per floret in the case of Melilotus.

Many factsheets on Melilotus note that it does best on alkaline soils, which we lack here in the Maritimes. Isn’t it interesting how so many outstanding nectar plants in North America are deemed to be invasive weeds? Dandelions, loosestrife, Japanese bamboo, sweet clover….

Regards,

Rob

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