HONEY. Ill 



we, in view of these facts, better express our conclusions than in the 

 language of Jefferson : "Should any nation, contrary to our wishes, 

 suppose it may better find its advantages by continuing its system of 

 prohibitions, duties and regulations, it behooves us to protect our citi- 

 zens, their commerce and navigation, by counter prohibitions, duties, 

 and regulations, also. Free commerce and navigation are not to be 

 given in exchange for restrictions and vexations, nor are they likely to 

 produce a relaxation of them." 



HONEY. This is also a vegetable product of much value, the im- 

 mediate production of the bee, feeding upon the flowers, as the silk worm 

 does upon the leaves of plants. It was greatly used as food by the 

 people of the east from their earliest recorded history. The ancients 

 seem not to have known its origin. Some believed it a dew from 

 heaven, and afterwards collected by bees ; and that the wax only was 

 obtained from flowers. Their poets describe it as running abundant- 

 ly from the trees during the golden age. It was used by them medi- 

 cinally as we do sugar, and likewise for making wine, which was 

 given to the soldiers on returning from triumph. The gods of Greece 

 were supposed to live on milk and honey (ambrosia). The Bible 

 makes frequent mention of bees and honey, of grape and tree honey, 

 or that thrown out on certain trees and shrubs. 



Honey is secreted by the nectariferous glands of flowers, at the base 

 of the pistil, and is taken up by suction and passed into the resopha- 

 gus, crop, or honey-bag, beyond which it does not pass, as it has never 

 been found in the true stomach. It is disgorged at the hive by an 

 inverted peristaltic motion, somewhat altered, doubtless, in its proper- 

 ties. It is used by the bees as food. Its physical properties vary, 

 as to taste and odor, according to the age of the bees and the char- 

 acter of the flowers affording it. A hive that has never swarmed af- 

 fords the best, which is called virgin honey. The flavor of the Nar- 

 bonne honey, so much admired, is thought to arise from the labiate 

 flowers on which the bee feeds. To imitate this, sprigs of rosemary 

 are added to common honey. Flour is also added, to increase the 

 quantity. This may be detected by its insolubility in water, and by 

 the blue color produced by iodine, which should be used as a test be- 

 fore honey is used medicinally. Mixed with water and fermented, it 

 becomes mead, a vinous liquor, much admired by some. It is used for 

 preserves, &c., and served upon the table by itself. Honey is abun- 

 dant in parts of this country, and in the Isle of Candia. Sicily, and 

 Minorca honey has a superior flavor, and is gathered three times a 

 year. The sage of Europe is said to give honey a superior flavor to 

 that of our country. The honey of spring is better than that of sum- 

 mer, and this is better than that of winter. That of mountainous dis- 

 tricts is best. 



The chemical properties of honey vary according to circumstances. 



