94 POLLEN. 



in the natural history of the honey-bee, the plainest proofs 

 of the wisdom of its Creator, or who can resist the impres- 

 sion that this insect was made for the especial service 

 and instruction of man. At first the importance of its pro- 

 ducts, when honey was almost the only natural sweet, 

 attracted most powerfully his attention to its curious habits ; 

 and now, since the cultivation of the sugar cane has dimin- 

 ished the relative value of its luscious sweets, the more 

 accurate knowledge which has been obtained of its instincts, 

 is awakening an ever increasing enthusiasm in its cultivation. 



Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgics, which is entirely 

 devoted to bees, speaks of them as having received a direct 

 emanation from the Divine Intelligence. And many modern 

 Apiarians are disposed to rank the bee for sagacity, as almost 

 next in the scale of creation to man. 



Though the importance of pollen in nourshing the brood, 

 has long been known, it is only of late that any successful 

 attempts have been made to furnish a substitute. The bees, 

 in Dzierzon's Apiary, were observed by him, to bring rye 

 meal to their hives from a neighboring mill, early in Spring, 

 before they could procure any pollen from natural supplies. 

 It is now a common practice on the continent of Europe, 

 where bee keping is extensively carried on, to supply the 

 bees early in the season, with this article. Shallow troughs 

 are set in front of the Apiaries, filled about two inches deep, 

 with finely ground, dry, unbolted rye meal. Thousands of 

 bees, when the weather is favorable, resort eagerly to them, 

 roll themselves in the meal, and return heavily laden to their 

 hives. In fine, mild weather, they labor at this work with 

 astonishing industry ; and seem decidedly to prefer the meal 

 to the old pollen stored in their combs. By this means, the 

 bees are induced to commence breeding early, and rapidly 

 recruit their numbers. The feeding is continued till the 



