Newport daily independent., 1905-02-16
ODD RANCHES ABOUT BEES.
old-Time Belief That Honey Was of Celestial Origin and Other
 Queer Notions.

All tAOoS udy0 VA oSASAtAAS OCC S0A- ture. when bees are trained to pack their honey in pound boxes ready for market, and are as much under the control of the beemaster as sheep ara of their shepherd, it is difficult to realize what quaint delusions prevailed only a few centuries back in every thing relating to the hive and its in- habitants, says the Chicago Daily News. The sources and composition of honey were subjects for many in genious speculations. 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" although he admits him. self in doubt as to whether it be the sweate of the heavens or a certaine spittle of the starres or juyce that ths ayre purgeth from himselfe." This be- lief in the celestial origin of honey runs through all the old treatises on apiculture, from the time of Virgil downward. It was supposed to be kind of mama from heaven, and its quality depended greatly on the favor able or unfavorable juxtaposition of tho stars at the time of it's descent.
 Although the existence in each hive Of one bee much larger than all tho others was generally recognized in old en times, this was believed to be mere ly a ruler or king over the rest. That the large bee was actually the mother of the whole colony never seems to have occurred to Anyone until recent times. This king bee is very fanci- fully described as having "a lofty pace and countenance expressing majesty. and white spot in his forehead glis- tening like a diadem." In each hive. also, there were ''subordinats govern ors and leaders and captains and colonels, marked by crests, tufts or tas., sells on their heads, some yellow. solks murrsy." Among various other duties 1t was the king's part to go out each evening in search of any bees that had not returned to the hive by sunset. and to show them the way home.
 From the earliest times honey ap- pears to have been held in extraor- dinary favor as universal specific for human ills. As hair restorer 1t was largely recommended, rubbed in plen- tifully 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 plastered on the bald places of tho head ever night, with infallible results in the morning, if one may credit . cer- tain fifteenth century writer. For weak eyes the same authority says tq take ! handful of tho heads Of bees. burn them, and minsle the ashes with. honey gathered in tho dog days. Tho eyes were then aEointed libsrally with tho mixture. and clearness q vision was the invariable reward. . In tho old days the situation ok . beehive was . matter of prime impQr-. tance. It was to be placed always on tho south side. of stream Of water. and. never in . asplace where there yers echoes. as an echo was very inturious to bees. A little gravel was to be put down In the neighborhood Of the hivss. e in windy weather the bees needed small- stones to carry about in theIr, Gight as counterpoises. The bAsksspsI was recommended to shave and keep his head close-cropped. long hair qn head or face being extremely offenstve to his charges. and In attire he was to avoid anything of red color. e this was detrimental to the bees. e