BEE PASTUKAGE. 89 



have not tested it sufficient to give an opinion. A 

 substitute for honey is sap from a few kinds of trees, 

 yet it all amounts to but very little. All these unnatu- 

 ral sources are abandoned when the flowers appear, 



MANNER OF PACKING IT. 



The particular manner of obtaining pollen has been 

 witnessed by but very few persons, as it is generally 

 brushed from their bodies and packed on their legs, 

 while on the wing, thereby preventing a fair chance 

 to inspect operations. When collecting only pollen 

 they alight on the flowers, passing rapidly over the 

 stamens, detaching a portion of the dust, which lodges 

 on most parts of them, to be brushed together and 

 packed into pellets when again on the wing. Thus 

 they keep alternately flying and alighting until a load 

 is obtained, when they immediately return to the hive ; 

 each bee bringing several loads in a day. Honey, as 

 it is collected, is deposited in the abdomen, and kept 

 out of sight till stored in the hive. 



ALDER YIELDS THE FIRST. 



The first material gathered from flowers is pollen. 

 . Candle-alder {Alnics Rvbra)* yields the first supply. 

 The time of flowering varies from the 10th of March 

 to the 20th of April. The amount afforded is also va- 

 riable. Cold, freezing weather frequently destroys a 

 great portion of these flowers after they are out. These 

 staminate flowers are nearly perfected the season pre- 

 vious, and a few warm 'days in spring will bring them 



* The botanical names are from Woad's Olass-Book. 



