172 USES OF HONEY AND WAX. 



But I am afraid this will not always be quite effective. 

 And what is worse, this ill conduct, as usually the 

 case with bad examples, is most infectious, so that 

 very often the whole apiary joins in the raid, and is, 

 for a time, thoroughly demoralised. But here, again, 

 carelessness is often the cause. A little honey, left 

 exposed near the hives, will often raise the storm. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



THE USES OF HONEY AND WAX. 



I MUST now tell you something of the great useful- 

 ness of bees. Possibly you think that their only use 

 is to collect honey and to make wax. But this, 

 indeed, is very far from the case ; it is not one half 

 the truth. We will try and see how this is ; but it is 

 a very large subject, and I can only give you the 

 most general outline, but sufficient, I hope, to make 

 you wish to know more, and to see more clearly how 

 marvellous and wise are all the ways of that Providence 

 which rules in nature. 



But, first of all, I must say a word of the honey 

 itself This, of course, is useful, and, we keep bees, in 

 a great measure, for its sake. You like it ; it is 

 pleasant to the taste. In olden days, and, indeed, 

 until something like four hundred years ago, it was 

 invaluable as the great substitute for sugar. Virgil 

 speaks of its use : — 



' T' allay the strength and hardness of the wine.' 



