APPLE BLOSSOM AND HONEY-FLOW 



beecomb is as undefiled as the nectar in the flower- 

 gland. But the grub of the wax moth denies every 

 comb it touches. So I had to make a bonfire and 

 burn every ruined bar-frame and comb, and with 

 these the wretched remnant of the bees nothing 

 could save them it was the merciful way. To miss 

 the first week or ten days of the honey-flow, the 

 perfect days of the pink-white apple blossom, is not 

 so bad as to let the wax moth get hold of a weakened 

 hive I doubt whether it prevails over a strong one 

 but it is a waste of pounds of food in the most 

 delicious form food can take. Besides, it may result 

 in a premature swarm, which will lessen the yield 

 just when honey should be coming in freely. 



The Phizzing Ant-hill 



The hills of the black ants among the pines, or 

 on the heather heath where the slow-worms and 

 green lizards lie out in the sun, are scenes of feverish 

 activity in May. The noise made by the dense 

 population of a hill three feet high and three times 

 as many round is remarkable. The ant-hill phizzes. 

 Is it cosmos in chaos, or chaos in cosmos ? Push 

 off the peak of the ant-hill with your stick up 

 which a dozen ants will be climbing instantly the 

 phizzing, if anything, is increased, feverishness added 

 to feverishness. 



Each ant seems to jerk its way more jerkily 

 than ever. Pandemonium reigns to our eyes. 



117 



