Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-19
Fancies About Bees.

In these days of scientific bee cul-
ture, when bees are trained to pack
their honey in pound boxes ready for
market and are as much under control
of the beemaster as sheep are of their
shepherd, it is difficult to realize what
quaint delusions prevailed only a few
centuries back in everything relating to
the hive and it's inhabitants. The
sources and composition of honey were
subjects for many ingenious specula-
tiOns. One old writer affirms it to be
made of the ayre, most of all at the
rising of the starres, chiefly the dogge
shining out early in the morning" al
though he admits himself in doubt as
to whether it be the sweate of the
heavens or a certaine spittle of the
starres or juyce that the ayre purgeth
from himselfe." This belief in the ce-
lestial origin of honey runs through all
the old treatises on agriculture from the
time of Virgil downward. 1t was sup
posed to be a kind of mamma from
heaven and it's quality depended great
ly on the favorable on unfavorable jux-
Imposition of the stars at the time of it's
descent.
Although the existence in each hive
of one bee much larger than all the
others was generally recognized in old
en- times, this was believed to be mere
ly ruler or king over the rest. That
the large bee was actually the mother
of the whole colony never seems to
have occurred to any one until recent
times. This king bee is very fancifully
described as having "a lofty pace and
cnIlnt pYnraccinU nd n
white spot in his forehead glistening
like diadem." In each hive also there
were subordinate governors and lead
ers and captains and colonies, marked
by crests, tufts or tassels on their
heads, some yellow, some murrey."
Among various other duties it was the
kings part to go out each evening in
search of any bees that had not re-
turned to the hive by sunset and to
show them the way home.
From the earliest times honey ap-
pears to have been held in extraordi- |
nary favor as a universal specific for
human ills. AS a hair restOrer it was
largely recommended, rubbed in plenti-
fully night and morning, and If dead
bees were dried, pounded and worked
up into thick paste with the honey its
hair producing capabilities were much
enhanced. This mess had to be plas-
tered on the bald places of the head
overnight, with infallible results in the
morning, If one may credit a certain
fifteenth century writer. For weak
eyes the same authority says to take
handful of the heads of bees, burn
them and mingle the ashes with honey
gathered ia the dog days. The eyes
were then anointed literally with the
mixture and clearness of vision was
the invariable reward.
In old days the situation of a bee
hive was matter Of prime Importance.
1t was to be placed always on the
south side of a stream or water and
never in a place where there were
echoes. as an echo was very injurious
to bees. A little gravel was to be put
down in the neighborhood of the hives.
as in windy weather the bees needed
small stones to carry about in their
flight as counterpoises. The beekeeper
was recommended to shave and keep
his head close-cropped, long hair on
head or face being extremely offensive
to his charges, and in attire he was to
avoid anything of red color, as this
was detrimental to the bees.