50 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



CHAPTEE IX. 



HONEY-DEW. 



This material is found on tlie upper surface of the leaves 

 of trees, has a shinuig appearance, and is sticky to the 

 touch. Many ignorant people in the country think it 

 falls from the skies during the night. It is simply the 

 product of an insect (aphis) found frequently on the 

 under sides of the leaves of certain trees. This kind of 

 insect is most plentiful in times of prevalent east winds, 

 and it is well known that flowers yield very little 

 honey indeed when the wind comes from either east or 

 north. In these times of scarcity the hees work on these 

 shining leaves, and thus collect honey-dew. Two years 

 ago — both in England and Scotland — considerable quan- 

 tities of it were gathered and stored in the hives. It is 

 dark in colour — disagreeable both to the eye and the 

 palate. Last year our bees collected so much of it that 

 much of ouj? honey was unsaleable. It was our good luck 

 never to become acquainted with it till 1867; and last 

 year, 1869, we became familiar with it. Some of it is 

 in aU our hives, numbering above forty stocks. 



Will it injure the health of the bees 1 This is a ques- 

 tion we are unable to answer at present. If the mortality 

 of our bees is great this winter, the dark honey will be 

 blamed for it. Fortunately there is not much of it, com- 

 pared to the good and pure honey, in the hives — perhaps 



