63 



on the flowers and leaves of plants from the atmosphere, or 

 by insects. It is well known that the Aphis, or plant louse, 

 deposites honey dew in abundance on the plants which it 

 frequents. Bees certainly obtain a large amount of honey 

 from this source, and it is probably the same substance which 

 was gathered by the Israelites under the name of Manna. 

 Bevan says it is found chiefly on the oak, elm, maple, plane, 

 sycamore, lime, hazle and blackberry, — sometimes on the 

 cherry, currant, etc. The oak generally affords the largest 

 quantity, and when it is abundant the happy humming of the 

 bees may be heard at a great distance. 



•' Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear, 



When the light Aphis, armed with puny spear, 



Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below. 



Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar flow." Evans, 



It is amusing, to a person acquainted with bees, to see or 

 hear some statements which have been made in regard to 

 them. For instance a writer in the New York Tribune, a 

 year or two since, ^fter describing a common box hive, which 

 he recommends, says a stock of fifty swarms, in the spring, 

 WILL produce 2000 pounds of honey, and increase to one 

 hundred swarms in autumn. Now, what a chance to make 

 money ! Suppose a swarm to be worth ten dollars in the 

 spring, we get forty pounds of honey, which at present is 

 worth $16.00 



New swarm, 10.00 



Old swarm, 10.00 



Giving us for $10.00 invested in the spring, $36.00 in autumn. 



Perhaps a good swarm, in a favorable season, may have 

 done this, but we apprehend such cases are as rare as cows 

 that give thirty quarts per day, or horses that make a mile in 

 2.40 ; but this writer says this will be the result. We are 

 aware that bee keeping can be made profitable, but there is 

 no reason in making such extravagant assertions as this. The 



