498 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SHORT HISTORY OF BEEKEEPING. 



C. p. DADANT. 



C. P. Dadant. 



This is a long subject, for bees and lioney were mentioned in the re- 

 motest times. So I can give but a short glimpse of it. 



Those familiar with the Old Testament are acquainted with the name 

 of "Debora," a prophetess of Israel. But only a few know that this name 

 is that of the honey bee in Hebrew. They know also that Samson found 

 a swarm of bees established in the dried-up carcass of a lion which he 

 had slain a few weeks before. That suggested to him the riddle which 

 he gave for his Philistine guests to solve and which they were at a loss 

 to explain until they bribed his wife to secure the solution. 



In the Proverbs, it is said "Eat thou honey, my son, for it is good." 

 The promised land was a country "flowing with milk and honey." Our 

 bee keepers, to advertise their honey, can have no difficulty in securing 

 good testimonials, when they can even quote the Bible in their favor. 



