OF NORTH AMERICA. ^y 



by feveral narcotic vegetables that are well known to us, 

 • fuch as opium, henbane,* thorn-apple,-]- &c. it is pro- 

 bable that the fame means of treatment will be found 

 ufeful in both cafes. Of thofe means it is not neceflarv 

 to make particular mention in this place. 



It would be curious to^fcertain, whether the bees are 

 ever injured or deftroyed by the quaffing of the nedtar 

 of the flowers from which they prepare the poifonous 

 honey. It is probable that they are; and, perhaps, 

 fome of the difeafes of thefe little infects may arile from 

 this fource.J It is true, indeed, that there are Ibmc poi- 

 fonous plants the nedtar of which the bees will not touch. 

 This is the cafe with the fritillaria imperialis, or crown- 

 imperial. § i do not remember to have feen bees in, or 

 immediately about, the flowers of the common rofebay, 

 or oleander,!! in the tube of which there is a fluid which 

 deftroys thoufands of the common houfe flies. But 

 what is called infl;in£t is not always fure. The bees 

 may prepare an honey from plants that are very injuri- 

 ous to them. The excellent Mr. Evelyn, fpeaking of 

 the elm fays, " but I hear an ill report of this tree for 

 bees, that, furfeiting of the blooming feeds, they are 

 obnoxious to the lalk,^ at their firft going abroad in 

 fpring, which endangers whole flocks, it remedies be 

 not timely exhibited; therefore, 'tis faid, in great elm 

 Vol. V. H countries 



* Hyofcyamus niger. 



f Datura ftramonium. 



^ Dr. James E. Smith afferts that die honey or neflar of plants is not 

 poilonous to Tbees. Syllabus to a Couife of LeSures on Botany, p. 23. I 

 have fome good reafon to believe that, fometimes at leaft, the contrary is 

 the ca^e. 



§ Linnaeus, fpeaking of this plant, fays, " Nulla, excepto Melianthn, 

 copiofiori melle fcatet planta, quam hsc ; fed apes id non coUigunt!" 

 Prseleftiones in Ordines Naturales Plantarum. Edidit Gifeke. p. 287. 

 Hamburgi, 1792. 



II Nerium oleander. 



•j This is one of the mod mortal difeafes of bees. It is beautifully 

 defcribed, and tlie remedies for it mentioned, by Virgil, Georgic. Lib. iv. 

 1. 251 — 280. 



