BEES NOT INJURIOUS TO GRAPES. 215 



Moscow, on our return from the Caucasus, when she 

 desired an explanation of the charm connected with 

 the bee-hive ; ' for/ said she, * since they were placed 

 in the hot-house, all the trees have produced fruit in 

 abundance.' We then explained to her that the bees 

 collect the pollen of the flowers, and, at the same 

 -time, bring this fertilizing farina of the stamens in 

 contact with the germ, which then produces the 

 fruit."* 



" While the honey bee is regarded by the best in- 

 formed horticulturists as a friend, a strong prejudice 

 has been excited against it by many fruit-growers in 

 this country ; and in some communities, a man who 

 keeps bees, is considered as bad a neighbor as one 

 who allows his poultry to despoil the gardens of oth- 

 ers. Even the warmest friends of the ' busy bee ' 

 may be heard lamenting its propensity to banquet on 

 their beautiful peaches and pears, and choicest 

 grapes." 



BEES NOT INJURIOUS TO GRAPES. 



" In conversation with a gentleman, I once assigned 

 three reasons why the bees could not inflict any ex- 

 tensive injury upon his grapes. First : that as the 

 Creator appears to have intended both the honey bee 

 and fruit for the comfort of man, it was difficult to 

 conceive that he would have made one the natural 



* The Life of North American Insects, by B. Jaeger. 



