Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-20

is conned from the structure of the hon.
ey-comb with its marvellous strength as
compared with the fragile nature Of its
exists among the myriad marvellous
works of nature. This waXen fabric de-
rived primarily from liquid honey con-
verted into wax in that marvellous
laboratory of the bee. formed by some
mysterious instinct or intelligence into
the very form of all others designed for
economy of materials. space and ex-
tremity of strength, passes beyond the
measure of human skill in its perfection
Somewhere between 1144 and 1868 1t
was discovered that WAX is produced be.
tween the plates on the lower side Of
the worker bees abdomen 1t was John
Hunter. the celebrated anatOmist who
discovered just how the bees secrete
wax, and thereby settled a vexed ques-
ton. He communicated his discovery in
a paper read to the Royal Society Of
London February %, 1893.
Wax is produced at the will of the
bee and when called for by the necessity
of the hive. The wax-producing bees OBJ
tain a somewhat higher temperature.
sometimes hang in slender festoons and
chains.
Wax is not chemically fat or glyeer-
ide. and those who have called ii the
fat of bees have grossly erred yet il is
nearly allied to the fats in atomic con-
stitution, and the physiological conditions
favorng the formation of one are curl
ously similar to those aiding in the pro-
~
try up to fat in confinement, with part
light; to secure bodily inactivity We
keep warm and feed highly Our bees
amer natures teaching, put themselves
up to yield wax under conditions SO par
allel that the suitability of the fattening
coop is vndicated
cheshire in his Investigations says
that on the inner side of the eight plates
lining the lower side of the abdomen are
about one hundred and forty thousand
glands. from which the wax is secreted
as IA white liquid, which hardens on ex-
posture to the air.
1T is evident from the best authorizes
that the form and method of wax secre-
ton were known as early as 1871. and
possible at even an earlier date.1he eX-
traordinary economy of the use of wax
is shown by the fact that the hive VI
eight to ten gallons capacity will yield
but about two pounds of wax when melt
ed. According to DR.. Donhom the thick
ness of the sides of a cell in new
comb is only the one one hundred and
eightieth part of an inch Cheshire.
s..,es mat ne found some that measured
only one fourth hundredth part of an
incn. .
Notwithstanding the fragile nature of
the honeycomb it is still sufficiently
strong to carry the relatively immense
perfection of insect labor is shown by
the fact that human ingenuity has new
er been able to make artificial honey
comb. The tales concerning nuiac'-
urea cotflD money are VI
Imagination. Consider that any machin-
cry devised for manufacturing honey
comb would make all parts alike in
similar sections. Examine carefully two
or more one-pound boxes of honey at
your grocer's and you will note differ
ences in the finish of cappings and build
ir~ the ""nb fast to the wooden casing.
which will at once convince you of the
~ ,neneSS of the article.
Not only does the bee excel as an ar
tisan, but also as a chemist. Its honey
stomach is the mist delicate chemical
Ia boratory in the world Here the nectar
of the flowers is transformed from Ia
highly diluted sweet. susceptible
speedy fermentation, into the most pttt
feet food product known. This chemiefi
change, invertng the sugar. accordlE
to the chemists phrase. is undoubteaa
accomplished i'm the laboratory of Kt
bee during its short flight from the q
to the hive. This chemical reaction ~
so delicate that no laboratory aside frthNS
that of the bee can successfully acco1fN
plish t."-Pittsburg Dispatch. IN