HONET. 287 



sionally also on the cherry, currant, and other fruit trees. Some- 

 times only one species of trees is affected at a time. The oak 

 generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its 

 greatest abundance, the happy, humming noise of the bees may 

 be heard at a considerable distance, sometimes nearly equalling in 

 loudness the united hum of swarming." BEVAN. 



In some seasons, bees gather large supplies from these 

 honey-dews, but it is usually abundant only once in three 

 or four years. The honey obtained from it, though 

 seldom light-colored, is generaUy of a good quality. 



The quality of honey varies very much : some kinds 

 are bitter, and others very unwholesome, being gathered 

 from poisonous flowers. A Mandingo African informed a 

 lady of my acquaintance that his countrymen eat none 

 that is unsealed until it has been boiled. In some of our 

 Southern States, all that is unsealed is rejected. The 

 noxious properties of honey gathered from poisonous 

 flowers would seem to be mostly evaporated (p. 276) 

 before it is sealed over by the bees. The boiling, how- 

 ever expels them still more effectually, for some persons 

 cannot eat even the best, when raw, with impunity. 

 When honey is taken from the bees, it should be put 

 where it will be safe from all intruders, and not exposed 

 to so low a temperature as to candy in the cells. The 

 little red and the large black ant are extravagantly fond of 

 it, and will carry off large quantities if within their reach. 

 Old honey is more wholesome than that freshly gathered 

 by the bees.* 



* The following extract from the work of Sir J. More, London, 1707, will show 

 the extravagant estimate which the old writers set upon bee-products: 



" Natural wax is altered by distillation into an oyl of marvellous vertue : it is 

 rather a Divine medicine than humane, because, in wounds or Inward diseases, it 

 worketh miracles. The bee helpeth to cure all your diseases, and is the best little 



friend a man has in the world Honey is of subtil parts, and therefore 3oth 



pierce as oyl, and easily passeth the parts of the body; it openeth obstructions, and 

 cleareth the heart and lights of those humors which fall from the head ; it purgeth 

 the foulness of the body, cureth phlegmatick matter, and sharpeneth the stomach ; 



