MISCHIEVOUS HABITS OF THE BEE. 245 



bees, to the utmost possible extent, it might be 

 questionable, whether the diminution in produce of 

 beef, mutton, and wool, hides and tallow, from the 

 impoverishment of the pasture, would not more than 

 compensate the return in value, from the increased 

 production of honey and wax." These insects were 

 formerly held, by their depredations on the pollen 

 and farina, to detract from the fragrance and beauty 

 of flowers, and to hasten their decay ; and by their 

 operations on the blossoms of fruit-trees, depriving 

 them of their nectarine juices, to occasion the 

 withering and premature decay of much of the fruit. 

 This ancient opinion receives some countenance from 

 the fact asserted by our modern gardeners, that if the 

 flowers of any of the radish or brasstca tribe, have 

 been much laid upon by bees, the purity of the seed 

 cannot be warranted. In addition, the mischievous 

 and revengeful disposition of these insects is urged 

 as extremely dangerous both to human and brute 

 creatures, insomuch that some farmers have de- 

 clared, they might as well be surrounded by nests of 

 hornets, as by multiplied stocks of bees. Accidents 

 of animals stung to death by these furious and vin- 

 dictive insects have ever been of periodical occur- 

 rence, several within the present year. Lately, a 

 female child had a fortunate escape. Its face, head 

 and breast were covered with the insects, swelled and 

 inflamed to an enormous size. The case was pe- 

 rilous, but by the child being immediately found, 

 the bees brushed off her, and proper remedies ap- 

 plied, she soon recovered* The juice of onions first, 

 and vinegar afterwards, are said to be specific. 

 M 3 



