HONEY. 
2S7 
Bioiia)ly also on the cherry, currant, and other fruit trees. Some¬ 
times only one species of trees is affeeted at a time. The oak 
generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its 
greatest abundance, the happy, humming noise of the bees may 
be heard at a considerable distance, sometimes nearly equalling in 
loudness the united hum of swarming."’ —IBevan. 
In some setisons, bees gather large supplies from these 
honey-dews, hut it is usually abundant only once in three 
or four years. The honey obtained from it, though 
seldom light-colored, is gencrtilly of a good quality. 
The quality of honey varies very much : some kinds 
arc hitter, and others very unwholesome, being g:\thered 
from poisonous flowers. A Manilingo African informed a 
lady of my acquaintance that his countrymen eat none 
that is unsealed until it has been boiled. In some of our 
Southern States, all that is unsealed is rejected. The 
no.vious properties of honey gathered from poisonous 
flowers would seem to be mostly evaporated (p. 276) 
before it is sealed over by the bees. The boiling, how¬ 
ever expels them still more effectually, for some persons 
cannot eat even the best, when raw, with impunity. 
When honey is taken from the bees, it should be put 
where it will be safe from all intruders, and not exposed 
to so low a temper.ature as to candy in the cells. T'he 
little red and the large black ant are extr.avagantly fond of 
it, and will carry off large quantities if within their reach. 
Old honey is more wholesome than that freshly gathered 
by the bees.* 
• The following extrnct from tho work of Sir J. More, London., 1707, will show 
the extravagunt estimate which tho old writers set upon bee-products: 
“Natural wax Is altered by distillation into an oyl of marvellous vertuo: It is 
rather a Divine modicino than humane, because, in wounds or inward diseases, it 
workoth miracles. The beo holpeth to cure all your diseases, and is the best Utile 
friend a man has in tho world. Honey is of subtil parts, and therefore doth 
pierce as oyl, and easily passeth tho parts of tho body; it oponetU obstructions, and 
fleareth the heart un«l lights of those humors which fall ft-om tho head; it purgeth 
the foulness of the body curoth phlcguiatick luattor, uud sharpeueth tho stomach ; 
