86 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



In reply to these arguments, being invited to go to his 

 vines, and see the depredators in the very act, the result 

 justified niy anticipations. Though many bees were seen 

 banqueting on grapes, not one was doing any mischief to 

 the sound fruit. Grapes which were bruised on the vines, 

 or lying on the ground, and the moist stems, from which 

 grapes had recently been plucked, were covered with 

 bees ; while other bees were observed to alight upon 

 bunches, which, when found by careful inspection to be 

 sound, they left with evident disappointment. 



Wasps and hornets, which secrete no wax, being furnish- 

 ed with strong, saw-like jaws, for cutting the woody fibre 

 with which they build their combs, can easily penetrate 

 the skin of the toughest fruits. While the bees, therefore, 

 appeared to be comparatively innocent, multitudes of these 

 depredators were seen helping themselves to the best of 

 the grapes. Occasionally, a bee would presume to alight 

 upon a bunch where one of these pests was operating for 

 his own benefit, when the latter would turn and " show 

 fight," much after the fashion of a snarling dog, molested 

 by another of his species, while daintily discussing his 

 own private bone. 



After the mischief has been begun by other insects, or 

 wherever a crack, or a spot of decay is seen, the honey- 

 bee hastens to help itself, on the principle of " gathering 

 up the fragments, that nothing may be lost." In this 

 way, they undoubtedly do some mischief; but before war 

 is declared against them, let every fruit-grower inquire if, 

 on the whole, they are not far more useful than injurious. 

 As bees carry on their bodies the pollen, or fertilizing 

 substance, they aid most powerfully in the impregnation 

 of plants, while prying into the blossoms in search of 

 honey or bee-bread. In genial seasons, fruit will often set 

 abundantly, even if no bees are kept in its vicinity ; but 



