186 IMPORTANCE OF BEE-KEEPING. 



whatever the explanation of it, — that in the case of all 

 those trees and plants which do not require the visit 

 of any insect, but only require the wind to scatter the 

 pollen, the flowers are without colour, without scent, 

 and without honey. They do not need the insect, 

 and so do not hold out any such attraction or give 

 any such invitation. 



Some day you will be able to understand more of 

 this marvellous and interesting subject, and will learn 

 more and more the lesson of Divine truth which it 

 teaches, but, even now, reviewing the mere outline of 

 the subject which I have given, you cannot fail to be 

 astonished at the great work done by the bees, and to 

 see their vast usefulness, usefulness so great that it has 

 been well said by one of the greatest authorities on 

 the subject,* ' To them we owe the beauty of our gar- 

 dens and the sweetness of our fields.' 



' There are in these examples who discern 

 Proof that in bees a power ethereal dwells, 

 An inspiration of the soul divine.' 



Virgil (by Kennedy). 



CHAPTER XLI. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF BEE-KEEPING. 



Bearing in mind what has been said in the last and 

 other chapters of the great usefulness of bees, — the 

 honey they collect, the wax they mkke, and the flowers 

 they fertilise, — we can understand that it is of cpn- 

 siderable importance that as many as possible should 

 be kept everywhere. 



* Sir John Lubbock. 



