POLLEN. 
85 
The discovery of this substitute removes a very serious 
obstacle to the culture of bees. In many districts, there 
is for a short time such an abundant supply of honey, that 
almost any number of strong colonies will, in a good sea- 
son, lay up enough for themselves, and a large surplus 
for their owners. In many of these districts, however, the 
supply of pollen is often quite insufficient, and in Spring, 
the swarms of the previous year are so destitute, that unless 
the season is early, the production of brood is seriously 
checked, and the colony cannot avail itself properly of the 
superabundant harvest of honey. 
While the honey-bee is regarded by the best informed 
horticulturists as a friend, a strong prejudice has been 
excited against it by many fruit-growers in this country ; 
and in some communities, a man who keeps bees, is con- 
sidered as bad a neighbor, as one who allows his poultry 
to despoil the gardens of others. Even the warmest 
friends of the “ busy bee,” may be heard lamenting its 
propensity to banquet on their beautiful peaches and pears, 
and choicest grapes and plums. 
In conversation with a gentleman, I once assigned three 
reasons, why the bees could not inflict any extensive 
injury upon his grapes. 1st, that as the Creator appears 
to have intended both the honey-bee and fruit for the 
comfort of man, it was difficult to conceive that He would 
have made one the natural enemy of the other. 2d, that 
as the supplies of honey from the blossoms had entirely 
failed, the season (1854) being exceedingly dry, if the 
numerous colonies in his vicinity had been able to help 
themselves to his sound grapes, they would have entirely 
devoured the fruit of his vines. 3d, that the jaws of the 
bee, being adapted chiefly to the manipulation of wax, 
were too feeble to enable it readily to puncture the skin 
oven of his most delicate grapes. 
