270 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



It would be well for apiculture if plants yielded to 

 bees no other nectar than that flowing from their 

 blossoms ; but, unhappily, a sort of second-hand honey, 

 primarily derived from plant juices, and of very 

 objectionable quality, is frequently gathered from 

 the insect pest, the Aphis, or plant louse, in such 

 quantity as to utterly ruin the legitimate harvest. 

 The whole question of this pseudo-honey has very 

 great interest, and demands the careful attention both 

 of the gardener and bee-keeper. 



None can have failed to have noticed the shining 

 and gummed appearance frequently presented by the 

 leaves of the lime, the sycamore, the oak, the maple, 

 and the elder, particularly in hot weather; while the 

 plum, the apple, rose, and currant — amongst many 

 other plants and trees — are often brought into an 

 almost disgusting condition from the glutinous liquid 

 which covers them, and which, because anciently sup- 

 posed to be a deposition from the atmosphere, re- 

 ceived and retains the name of " honey dew." Kirby 

 and Spence, in their " Introduction to Entomology," 

 say : " You have, doubtless, observed what is called 

 the honey dew, upon the maple and other trees, con- 

 cerning which the learned Roman naturalist, Pliny, 

 gravely hesitates whether he shall call it, the sweat 

 of the heavens, the saliva of the stars, or a liquid pro- 

 duced by the purgation of the air. Perhaps you may 

 be aware that it is a secretion of Aphides, whose 

 excrement has the privilege of emulating sugar and 

 honey in sweetness and purity." De gustibus dis- 

 putandum est, and certainly here but few would en- 

 dorse the closing words of these authors. Plants 



