I48 PASTITRAGE. 



fpecies of a very inferior quality, and fuch 

 as they would defpife at another time. 



Befides the acquiiition of honey, farina 

 is of great importance to make bees flouriih. 

 It is the dujl or flour found on thejiamma 

 of flowers, and which -contains much effen- 

 tial oil, vifible to the naked eye on holly- 

 hocks. This precious concrete fubftance 

 the bees collect in little balls, on their hind 

 legs, or by the hair of their bodies. The 

 balls, on their return home, are ftruck off 

 from their legs, in its crude ftate or by 

 biting it off piecemeal, and are depofited in 

 their cells ; other bees often affifling. Pro* 

 bably the farina of different colours may be 

 alfo as different in quality. 



Its use is partly to feed themj elves , and 

 partly to nouriih the young. 'That gathered 

 in fummer is immediately fwallowed, and 

 by their digeftive faculties converted ei- 

 ther into fiod t or wax wherewith to form 

 the combs, and which is difcharged at their 

 mouths in a.foft ftate ; fo well adapted is it 

 to its intended purpofe. Therefore, when a 

 fwarm is newly hived, little or no farina is 

 feen to be carried in ; and a proof of this 



may' 



