378 HONEY OBTAINED FROM HEATH. 



It has been remarked, that the honey collected in the 

 vicinity of forests is of a reddish hue, of an acrid and pur- 

 gative nature; that which is collected in the plains and 

 meadows is white, more nourishing and less purgative ; and 

 thirdly, that which is collected from the meadows in the 

 vicinity of woods, partakes of a middling character, and is, 

 in some respects, preferred to the two former. 



It is certain that honey is not equal in its quality, and 

 this difference undoubtedly arises from the peculiar kind 

 of country in which the bees are domiciliated. Thus a pre- 

 judice, and a very false one it is, exists against the honey 

 which is collected from the heaths ; so much so, that the 

 most inferior kind of honey of commerce is known by the 

 name of heath honey, whereas there is perhaps no herb 

 which yields a greater quantity, or a purer kind of honey, 

 than heath. A hive removed to the vicinity of heath in 

 August will increase in weight ten or twelve pounds, which 

 if allowed to remain in its original situation would not have 

 gained perhaps three pounds in weight. That honey is the 

 best which is new, transparent, of a sweet and agreeable 

 smell, rather aromatic, and when deposited for some time in 

 the pots assumes a hard consistency. The ropy honey, re- 

 sembling treacle, should always be rejected, for that very 

 quality bespeaks its adulteration. The whiter the honey, the 

 purer is the grain of it, and the honey of the spring is 

 generally to be preferred to that of the summer. 



The second kind of honey is sometimes apt to ferment, 

 owing to the admixture of heterogeneous substances with 

 which it abounds. It may be brought back nearly to its 

 original state, by exposing it to a cold temperature. The 

 concrescible part of the honey assumes a solid form, whilst 

 the fermentable part remains liquid. The separation can 

 then be easily effected. 



There are few articles in trade which are more adulterated 

 than honey ; and the article which is sold in the London shops, 



