Newport daily independent., 1905-03-04
ODD RANCHES ABOUT BEES.
old-Tirne Belief That Honey Was of Celestial Origin and Other
 Queer Notions.

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 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 af1irms 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 tha sweate of the heavens or certains 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 a kind of mama from heaven. and its quality depended greatly on the favor able or unfavorable juxtaposition 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 on 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 anyone until recent times. This king bee is very fanci- fully described as having "a lofty pacs and countenance expressing majesty. and a white spot in his forehead glis- tening like diadem." In each hive. also, there were subordinate govern ors and leaders and captains and colonels, marked by crests, tufts or tas' sels on their heads, some yellow, some murrsy." Among various other duties 1t was the kings 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. it's producing capabilities were much enhanced. This mess had to be plastered on the bald places of the head over night, with infallible results in the morning, if one may credit . cer- tain 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 in the dog days. The syes were then aEointed literally with the mixture, and clearness of vision was the invariable reward.
 In the old days the situation of a beehive was matter of prime impor- tance It was to be placed always on the south side of a stream of water, and never in a place where there wers 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 baekeepes was recommended to shave and keep bis head close-cropped, long hair on head or face being extremely offensive to his charges, and in attire he was to avoid anything of a red color. as this was detrimental to the bees.