SOtTROES OF HOKBY. 63 



Jority of sncli cases, the aid of insects is necessary. In 

 the search for honey, the bees visit numerous flowers of 

 the same species only, in one journey (a fact which is 

 mentioned by Aristotle), and its body being covered by 

 the pollen, it is next to impossible for it not to leave some 

 of it in the proper place. 



INJUKT TO BIPE FEUIT. 



There is a prevalent opinion that bees do much injury 

 to ripe fruit, such as grapes, peaches, plums, etc. It is 

 often affirmed that crops of these fruits, especially grapes, 

 are measurably destroyed by the bees puncturing the skin, 

 and sucking the juices. 



A gentleman, whose letter lies before me, states that he 

 does not secure one-twentieth of his grape crop, for this 

 reason. 



Mr. Quinby, as well as myself, gave this matter much 

 personal attention, from the fact that we were largely in- 

 terested in grape culture, as well as bees, having several 

 hundred vines under cultivation. Our experience fully 

 accorded with the testimony of Mr. Langstroth, and 

 other intelligent observers, to the efEect that a honey-bee 

 never injures sound fruit. In reply to a gentleman who 

 complained of the bees, Mr. L. gave the ibllowing, as 

 among the reasons why the bees could not inflict any ex- 

 tensive injury upon his grapes : 



" That as the supplies of honey from the blossoms had 

 entirely failed * * * if the bees had been able to help 

 themselves to his round grapes they would have entirely 

 devoured the fruit of his vines. * * * That the jaws 

 of the bee being adapted chiefly {o the manipulation of 

 wax, were too feeble to enable it readily to puncture the 

 skin, even of his most delicate grapes. In reply to these 

 arguments, being invited to go to his vines and see the 

 depredators in the very act, the result justified my antici- 



