bee-keeper's manual. 247 



several thousands of globules, or small, round and com- 

 pact drops, which, however, seem to be either touching 

 or intermixing, similar to those which are seen on the 

 plants after a thick fog. The position of each globule 

 appeared to indicate, not only the point from which it 

 exuded, but also iiie number of the pores, or the glands 

 of the leaf in which this mellifluous juice had been 

 pressed. I assured myself that the honey dew possessed 

 the real color of honey, which alone was sufficient to 

 decide its origin, and our surprise need not be great that 

 exudation is not suspected as the cause." 



Thus it will be seen that this subject is but another 

 question of the disputed catalogue that pertains to the 

 Jiistory and economy of the honey-bee. Some natu- ' 

 ralists contend that there are two sorts of honey dew, 

 neither of which falls from the atmosphere, " one a se- 

 cretion from the surface of the leaf, and the other a 

 deposition from the body of the aphis." Thus speaks 

 Dr. Bevan. The aphis is an insect that abounds on 

 the leaves of certain trees, at certain seasons, and they 

 are said to eject a saccharine fluid from their bodies, 

 in very small limpid drops, of the consistence and flavor 

 of honey. 



It is my opinion that no honey dew ever existed, that 

 was not an exudation from the leaves of the tree. It 

 appears to be so inconsistent, that nature should shower 

 down a sweet mist that can only be perceived on the 

 leaves of shrubs or trees. Why do we not perceive the 

 bees gathering it from stones, and other substances, as 



