New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
THE OBSOLETE BEE
SOME REMARKS ON HONEY INTOXIc,
TION

TON
From The London Outlook.
"A red-hipped bumbiebee on a thlstle"-(Midsu.
mer Nights Dream.
1t was not exactly a thistle on which
used to find it. but that thistle-like aOwA
known as the knapweed. For several summer,
| cultivated the acquaintance Of this little bas
and got TO know it well. and love II. 1t strusE
you at once that it not improving the shin
ing hour with that Intense industry comma
to it's race. In fact. 1t was undoubtedly idling
away its time in lazy enjoyment Of the SUNSHINE
1t was a bee 10 have reJOiced the heart n,
Harold Skimpole who 80 resented having III.
busy bee" held up as an example. In ou
country rambles We used to obtain much anus.
ment from its queer ways If YOU put yor
finger near it, this lazy little bee would not A.
away, bat strike out at you with it's legs in
feeble sort of way. When taken up in the hand
IL would dance erraucaly about on its hM
legs. waving the others about in a ludicrm,
manner. Or it would lie on its back. and moy.
about in sinuOus curves on your palm. buzzn,
lazily the while. and waving about its legs in
feeble and imbecile sort Of way. We came IA
realize in time that our little red-tailed friend
was hopelessly drunk, and instead of gathering
honey all the day from every opening flower
lay tipping all day long most wickedly in ths
same.
Herrick seems to allude to this when he speak
OF bee which flew
After a dew a dewlike shower
To tipple freely in a Hover
But how, we may ask, can the bee get drunk
on the harmless nectar OF the fOWer-a teetota
drink surely If ever there was one2
There appear to be two possible ways L
which this intOxication may occur Honey "
know. varies greatly in quality. some being even
poisonous. When the soldiers Of XenOphon ate
the honey found in the country OF the COlchians
those who had taken only little were like men
very drunk. those who had taken much were til.
madmen. This result was attributed % the fac.
that the honey had been gathered from rhode.
dendrOn flowers. And certain honey found ID
| the Caucasus is reputed to have an intoxicating
effect on those who eat Il. Duugas Freshfeli
could only account for the siranr- tshayiOr 0.
one Of his men when travelling there by sup
| posing he had partaken too freely f this honey
| IL also is supposed TO come from rn0dOlendron
| flowers. We may. then. suppose that the money
| OF certain flowers has an intoxicating Effect On
bees. But honey may also be changed into aiCO.
| hol. In former days II was the source OF II.
chief intoxicating drink N this ana other c0un.
| tries the well known mead. u ia quite pos
sible that honey may be thus transit rned while
| still in the flower. Germs II fermentation III
ever floating about in the air. and may seth
down In the honey cups which form The feeding
81 und of the bee. Tie sweet juice is change
| to alcohol and The bee finds IN them q waysi
| tavern. 1t is uncertain which Of these is tn
| right explanation.
| Herrick is not the only poet who hints at III
irreguarity OF the bee. Jean IngelOw ailudes q
Crowds Of bees arc giddy with clover
| While Keats writes OF
Honeysuckles full OF clear bce-w.ne.
| Edgar Allan Poe speaks Of the intoxicating d
| fuence Of the blue flowers Of SephalIca
| Il s,l remaincth. torturing the be
| With Madness and unWOnted revere.
| Alas poor bee How thou arr fallen from h
! lofty moral PEDESTAL No longer held VI as a
example. thou shalt play the HelOt to our Spa
tan youth. AS thou staggerest about in imbe
Gle enjoyment in our hand thou shalt buzz q
us tn warning.
| Put not thou an enemy IN thy mouth
| To steal away thy brains'-and legs.