Heath and Heather How often is "heather honey " spoken
of as a superior luxury ; but how many of those who use the description know what it means. Honey from bell heather has no particular likeness to honey from ling, which is the most widely dispersed of all the heaths. The two differ mechanically as well as in savour. At this date very many commons in the south are gorgeous with ling, interspersed on some with harebells in great quantity, and with thyme. Now my own bees and those of some neighbours are within a hundred yards• or so of a carpet of ling, but you will have much ado to find a single bee taking advantage of the store. Is the reason that the garden flowers are nearer and a knowledge that the two sorts of honey do not consent to a mutual relation ? It was remarkable when one hive was inspected the other day that the bees had been chiefly collecting not honey but pollen against ne4tt spring's needs.
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