BEK PASTURAGE. 
89 
have not tested it sufficient to give an opinion. A 
substitute for honey is sap from a few kinds of trees, 
yet it all amounts to but very little. All these unnatu- 
ral sources are abandoned when the flowers appear. 
MANNER OF PACKING IT. 
The particular manner of obtaining pollen has been 
witnessed by but very few persons, as it is generally 
brushed from their bodies and packed on their legs, 
while on the wing, thereby preventing a fair chance 
to inspect operations. When collecting only pollen 
they alight on the flowers, passing rapidly over the 
stamens, detaching a portion of the dust, which lodges 
on most parts of them, to be brushed together and 
packed into pellets when again on the wing. Thus 
they keep alternately flying and alighting until a load 
is obtained, when they immediately return to the hive ; 
each bee bringing several loads in a day. Honey, as 
it is collected, is deposited in the abdomen, and kept 
out of sight till stored in the hive. 
ALDER YIELDS THE FIRST. 
The first material gathered from flowers is pollen. 
Candle-alder ( Alnus Rubra)* yields the first supply. 
The time of flowering varies from the 10th of March 
'to the 20th of April. The amount afforded is also va- 
riable. Cold, freezing weather frequently destroys a 
great portion of these flowers after they are out. These 
staminate flowers are nearly perfected the season pre- 
vious, and a few warm days in spring will bring them 
* The botanical names arc from Wood’s Class-Book. 
