POLLEN. 85 



The discovery of this substitute removes a very serious 

 obstacle to the culture of bees. In many districts, there 

 is for a short time such an abundant supply of honey, that 

 almost any number of strong colonies will, in a good sea- 

 son, lay up enough for themselves, and a large surplus 

 for their owners. In many of these districts, however, the 

 supply of pollen is often quite insufficient, and in Spring, 

 the swarms of the previous year are so destitute, that unless 

 the season is early, the production of brood is seriously 

 checked, and the colony cannot avail itself properly of the 

 superabundant harvest of honey. 



While the honey-bee is regarded by the best informed 

 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 con- 

 sidered as bad a neighbor, as one who allows his poultry 

 to despoil the gardens of others. 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 and plunls. 



In conversation with a gentleman, I once assigned three 

 reasons, w>hy the bees could not inflict any extensive 

 injury upon his grapes. 1st, 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 enemy of the other. 2d, that 

 as the supplies of honey from the blossoms had entirely 

 failed, the season (1854) being exceedingly dry, if the 

 numerous colonies in his vicinity had been able to help 

 themselves to his sound grapes, they would have entirely 

 devoured the fruit of his vines, 3d, that the jaws of the 

 bee, being adapted chiefly to the manipulation of wax, 

 were too feeble to enable it readily to puncture the skin 

 even of his most delicate grapes. 



