Bees.

Evening Star, Issue 8279, 26 July 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

Bees.

A new- champion has arisen to defend the honey bee from the obloquy under which it has always rested. Mr W. K, Clarke, of Canada, claims to h>ve discovered from repeated observations that the most important functions of the bee’s sting is not stinging. In a recent article he says : “ My observations and reflections have convinced me that the most important office of the bee’s sting is that which is performed in doing the artistic cell work, capping the comb, and infusing the formic acid, by means of which honey receives its keeping qualities. As I said at Detroit, the sting is really a skilfully contrived little trowel, with which the bee finishes off and caps the colls when they are filled brimful of honey. This explains why honey extracted before it is capped over does not keep well. The formic acid has not been injected into it. This is done in the very act of putting the last touches on the cell work. As the little pliaut trowel is worked to and fro with such, dexterity, the darts, of which there are two, pierce the plastic cell surface and leave beneath tiny drops of the fluid which makes it keep well. This is the ‘ nrt preservative " of honey. A most wonderful provision of Nature, truly ! Herein wo see that the sting and the poison bag. with which so many of us would like to dispense, are essential to the storage of our coveted product, and that without them the beautiful comb honey o£ commerce would be a thing unknown.”