246 miner's AMERICAN 



the honey which falls on the flowers is preserved a 

 much longer time. 



" Those persons who have not viewed the honey dew 

 fall, like myself, have asserted, that it is nothing more 

 than the sap or juice of the plants, which, in hot 

 weather, experience, perhaps, a greater fermentation, 

 and by which it is forced through the leaves. In con- 

 tradiction to this, I assert that it is perceived much 

 better in the morning before the sun has been able to 

 dry and harden it. These persons are, however, de- 

 ceived. / have not only seen this honey dew fall a hun- 

 dred times in the form of fine rain on the leaves of an 

 ash, but I have also showed it to others, and the 

 globules were most distinctly perceived." Whether 

 this substance be an atmospheric phenomenon, or an exu- 

 dation, or secretion of certain trees and shrubs, is of 

 little consequence to the apiarian, beyond merely satis- 

 fying his curiosity. 



I will now give a little testimony on the other side of 

 the case. 



"I have long adhered to the opinion," says Mr. 

 Knight, " that the honey dew deposed on the leaves of 

 the trees, was only an exudation, although the form of 

 the globules scarcely bore any resemblance to each 

 other, but were rather an imitation of a species of rain. 

 On examining more minutely different trees, on which 

 the honey dew was apparent, chance led me to the dis- 

 covery of a holm-oak, on which the honey devi^ had re- 

 cently appeared, and in its primitive form, which is that 

 of a transfused humor. The leaves were covered with 



