126 On the Toifonous Honey 



praftice has been ufeful. As the effefts produced by ihij 

 honey are lo fimilar to thofe produced bv feveral narcotic ve- 

 getables that are well known to us, fuch as opium, hen- 

 bane *, thorn-apple t, &c. it is probable that the fame 

 means of treatment will be found ufeful in both cafes. Of 

 thofe means it is not necelTary to make particular mention iu 

 this place. 



It would be curious to afcertain whether the bees are ever 

 injured or dedroyed by the quaffing of the neftar of the 

 flowers from which they prepare the poifonous honev. It is 

 probable that they are ; and, perhaps, fome of the difeafes of 

 thefe little infefts may arife from this fource t. It is true, 

 indeed, that there are fome poifonous plants the neftar of 

 which the bees will not touch. This is the cafe with the 

 frkillar'ia viiperiaUs, or crown imperial §. I do not remem- 

 ber 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 deitroys thoufands of the common houle flies. 

 But what is called inftinft is not always fure. The bees 

 may prepare an honey from plants that are very injurious to 

 them. The excellent Mr. Evelyn, fpeaking of the elm, fays, 

 ** But I hear an ill report of this tree for bees, that, furfciting 

 of the blooming feeds, they are obnoxious to the lafk^, at 

 their firft going abroad in fpring, which endangers whole 

 flocks if remedies be not timely exhibited ; therefore it is 

 faid, in great elm countries they do not thrive ; but the truth 

 of which I am yet to learn ^*." 



In South Carolina, in Georajia, and in the two Floridas, 

 but more efpecially in Eall Florida, the inftances of injuriej> 

 from the eating of wild honey are more numerous than in 

 any other parts of North America that are known to us. 



There is a tradl of country included between the rivers 



* Hyofcyamus nigcr 



t Datura ftramonium. 



% Dr. James E. Smith aflerts that the honey or neftar of planrs is not 

 poifonous to bees. Sylli-ibus to a Courfe of Lcttures on Botany, p 25. I 

 have foiiie good reafon to believe tli'at, fometimes at lealt, the contrary is 

 the cafe. 



§ Linnius, fpeaking of this plant, fays: " Nulla, cxcepto Melianthoj 

 copiofiori mcUc fcatet planta, quatn haec ; fed apes id non colligunt!'* 

 Praele6tiones in Ordincs Naturales Plantarum, edidit Gifcke, p. 2S7. 

 Hambuigi 1792, 



II Ncnum oleander. 



<if This is one of the mod mortal difeafes of bees. It is 'ocautifully de* 

 fcribed, and the remedies for it mentioned, by Virgil, Georgic. lib. ivi 

 1. 251^— iSo. 



'■'" Silva. or a Difcourfc on Foreft Trees, &c. p. 133 and 134. Doflor 

 Hunter's edition. 



St. 



