POLLEN. 123 



ascertained by tasting the little pellets, which in the hurrj' 

 are loosened from their baskets, and fall to the bottom of 

 the flour box. In fine, mild weather, they labor at this 

 work with great industry ; preferring the meal to the old 

 pollen stored in their combs. They thus breed early, and 

 rapidly recruit their numbers. The feeding is continued 

 till, the blossoms furnishing a preferable article, they cease 

 to carry off the meal. 



We will here add that, as a rule, colonies that do not 

 carry in meal or pollen, at the opening of Spring, are without 

 brood, either because they are queenless, or from want of 

 honey, or from some other cause. 



The discovery of flour, as a substitute for pollen, removes 

 a very serious obstacle to the culture of bees. In many 

 districts, there is for a short time such an abundant supply 

 of honey, that almost any number of strong colonies will, 

 in a good season, lay up enough for themselves, and a large 

 surplus for their owners. In many of these districts, how- 

 ever, the supply of pollen is often quite insufficient, and in 

 Spring, the swarms of the previous year are so destitute, 

 that unless the season is early, the production of brood is 

 seriously checked, and the colony cannot avail itself prop- 

 erly of the superabundant harvest of honey. 



268. As bees carry on their bodies the pollen, or fertil- 

 izing substance, they aid most powerfully in the impregna- 

 tion of plants, while prying into the blossoms in search of 

 honey or bee-bread. In genial seasons, fruit will often set 

 abundantly, even if no bees are kept in its vicinity; but 

 many Springs are so unpropitious, that often during the 

 critical period of blossoming, the sun shines for only a few 

 hours, so that those only can reasonably expect a remuner- 

 ating crop whose trees are all murmuring with the pleasant 

 hum of bees. 



269. One of the laws of Nature is that the crossing of 

 the races produces offspring with greater vigor, endurance, 



