passing under some willow trees, (_Salix Vitellina_,) that
leaves, grass, and stones, were covered with a wet or shining
substance. On looking among the branches, I found nearly all the
smallest were covered with a species of large black _aphis_,
apparently engaged in sucking the juices, and occasionally
discharging a minute drop of a transparent liquid. I _guessed_
this might be the honey-dew. As this was early in the morning, I
resolved to visit this place again, as soon as the sun got up far
enough to start out the bees, and see if they collected any of
it. On my return I found not only bees in hundreds, but ants,
hornets, and wasps. Some were on the branches with the _aphis_,
others on the leaves and larger branches. Some of them were even
on the stones and grass under the trees, collecting it.

We will now return to the flowers, and see what few there are yet to
appear, after the middle of July. The button-ball bush (_Cephalanthus
Occidentalis_) is now much frequented for honey. Also, our vines,
melons, cucumbers, squashes, and pumpkins. The latter are visited only
in the morning, and honey is the only thing obtained; notwithstanding
the bee is covered with farina, it is not kneaded into pellets on its
legs. I have seen it stated that bees never get honey early in the
morning, but pollen instead. Now it is not best always to take our
word, who pretend to know all about it, but look for yourselves into
some of these matters. Take a look some warm morning, when the pumpkins
are in bloom, and see whether it is honey or pollen they are in quest
of. Also please make an observation when they are at work on the red
raspberry, motherwort, or catnip; you will thus ascertain a fact so
easily, that you will wonder any one with the least pretension to
apiarian science could be ignorant of it. I mention this, not because
it is of much importance in itself, but to show the fallibility of us
all, as we sometimes copy the mistaken assertions of others.

ADVANTAGES OF BUCKWHEAT.

Under some circumstances, clover will continue to bloom through this
part of the season; also, a few other flowers; but I find by weighing,
a loss from one to six pounds, between the 20th July and the 10th of
August, when the flowers of buckwheat begin to yield honey, which
generally proves a second harvest. In many places it is their main
dependence for surplus honey. It is consi