REMEDIES STORING CLARIFYING HONEY. 325 



and sugar, it will contribute greatly to the health of 

 the bees. It is a gross error to believe that feeding 

 makes bees lazy; on the contrary, it raises their 

 spirits, and induces the queen to commence the lay- 

 ing of her eggs much sooner than she otherwise 

 would do. 



The chief DISEASES of bees, generally arising from 

 damps, cold, or poverty, and occasionally from the 

 excessive heat of the sun, when shelter is necessary 

 for the hive are dysentery, or looseness, torpor, 

 falling in flight from vertigo or giddiness, lice. Care 

 and good feeding seem to be the only remedies, on 

 which much dependence can be placed. Good old 

 port wine mixed with honey, and toast soaked in old 

 beer sweetened with honey or coarse sugar, are the 

 chief specifics in repute. 



Keepers of bees should always have at hand pure 

 olive oil as a remedy for the STING of those insects, 

 to be dropped instantly on the wound: or Venice 

 treacle, which some mix with oil. The juice of onions 

 and salt mixed, is also used for the same purpose. 



To STORE, or preserve honey, the vessels or jars 

 in which it is kept, should be well and tightly co- 

 vered or corked, and the store-room be quite dry, 

 as honey imbibes damp, by which it is deteriorated 

 in quality, and in the end turns sour. Honey is often 

 adulterated with flour and similar substances, to in- 

 crease its weight. 



To clarify honey, place the vessel containing the 

 honey in hot water, and take off the scum as long 

 as any arises, afterwards stop close. 



METHEGLIN, or MEAD. The once common drink 

 of this name, was a mere unfermented mixture of 



