The Tears of Re


Book Description

According to Egyptian mythology, when the ancient Egyptian sun god Re cried, his tears turned into honey bees upon touching the ground. For this reason, the honey bee was sacrosanct in ancient Egyptian culture. From the art depicting bees on temple walls to the usage of beeswax as a healing ointment, the honey bee was a pervasive cultural motif in ancient Egypt because of its connection to the sun god Re. Gene Kritsky delivers a concise introduction of the relationship between the honey bee and ancient Egyptian culture, through the lenses of linguistics, archeology, religion, health, and economics. Kritsky delves into ancient Egypt's multifaceted society, and traces the importance of the honey bee in everything from death rituals to trade. In doing so, Kritsky brings new evidence to light of how advanced and fascinating the ancient Egyptians were. This richly illustrated work appeals to a broad range of interests. For archeology lovers, Kritsky delves into the archeological evidence of Egyptian beekeeping and discusses newly discovered tombs, as well as evidence of manmade hives. Linguists will be fascinated by Kritsky's discussion of the first documented written evidence of the honeybee hieroglyph. And anyone interested in ancient Egypt or ancient cultures in general will be intrigued by Kritsky's treatment of the first documented beekeepers. This book provides a unique social commentary of a community so far removed from modern humans chronologically speaking, and yet so fascinating because of the stunning advances their society made. Beekeeping is the latest evidence of how ahead of their times the Egyptians were, and the ensuing narrative is as captivating as every other aspect of ancient Egyptian culture.




Honey Bees


Book Description

In Honey Bees: Letters From the Hive, bee expert Stephen Buchmann takes readers on an incredible tour. Enter a beehive--one part nursery, one part honey factory, one part queen bee sanctum--then fly through backyard gardens, open fields, and deserts where wildflowers bloom. It's fascinating--and delicious! Hailed for their hard work and harmonious society, bees make possible life on earth as we know it. This fundamental link between bees and humans reaches beyond biology to our environment and our culture: bees have long played important roles in art, religion, literature, and medicine--and, of course, in the kitchen. For honey fanatics and all who have a sweet tooth, this book not only entertains and enlightens but also reminds us of the fragility of humanity's relationship with nature. Includes illustrations and photographs throughout.




Bad Beekeeping


Book Description

A million pounds of honey. Produced by a billion bees! This memoir reconstructs the life of a young man from Pennsylvania as he drops into the bald prairie badlands of southern Saskatchewan. He buys a honey ranch and keeps the bees that make the honey. But he also spends winters in Florida swamps, nurse-maid to ten thousand dainty queen bees. From the dusty Canadian prairie to the thick palmetto swamps of the American south, the reader meets with simple folks who shape the protagonist's character - including a Cree rancher with three sons playing NHL hockey, a Hutterite preacher who yearns to roam the globe, a reclusive bee-eating homesteader, and a grey-headed widow who grows grapefruit, plays a nasty game of scrabble, and lives with four vicious dogs. Encompassing a ten-year period, this true story evolves from the earnest inexperience of the young man as he learns an art and builds a business. Carefully researched natural biology runs counterpoint to human social activities. Bee craft serves as the setting for expositions that contrast American and Canadian lifestyles, while exemplifying the harsh reality of a man working with and against the physical environment.




The Anatomy of the Honey Bee


Book Description

"The Anatomy of the Honey Bee" is a vintage treatise first published in 1910. It deals in detail with the physiognomy, anatomy, and natural history of the honey bee, making it ideal for those with a serious interest in bees and bee-keeping. Contents include: "General External Structure of Insects", "The Head of the Bee and Its Appendages", "The Structure of the Head", "The Antennae and their Sense Organs", "The Mandibles and their Glands", "The Proboscis", "The Epipharynx", "The Thorax and its Appendages", "The Structure of the Thorax", "The Wings and their Articulation", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. This book has been selected for reproduction due to its educational importance, and we are proud to be republishing it now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on Bee-keeping.




The Honey-bee


Book Description




Murder Offstage


Book Description




The Book of the Honey Bee


Book Description

This volume contains a complete guide to bee-keeping, with information on setting up, general management, diseases, common problems, increasing yields, and much more. "The Book of the Honey Bee" is highly recommended for both beginners and seasoned keepers alike, and it would make for a fantastic addition to collections of allied literature. Contents include: "Introductory", "Natural History", "The Domestic Economy of the Hive", "The Apiary and Its Arrangement", "Sources of Honey", "The Hive", "The Home-made 'W.B.C.' Hive", "The Frame and its Fittings-Division Boards-Foundation", "How to Begin", "Transferring", "Undesired Swarms", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on Bee-keeping.




The Lore of the Honey Bee - Natural History and Bee-Keeping


Book Description

Originally published in 1908, this is one of the earliest books on bee keeping and the natural history of the honey bee, with information on its natural history, bee society, anatomy, bee keeping, and much more. Full of fascinating information and detailed explanations, this timeless volume will be of considerable utility to modern bee keepers, and would make for a valuable addition to collections of related literature. Contents include: “The Oldest Craft Under the Sun”, “The Ancients and the Honey-Bee”, “The Isle of Honey”, “Bee-Masters in the Middle Ages”, “At The City Gates”, “The Commonwealth of the Hive”, “Early Works in the Bee-City”, “The Genesis of the Queen”, The Bride-Widow”, “The Sovereign Worker-Bee”, and more. Many classic bee books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on bee keeping.




An Improved System of Propagating the Honey Bee


Book Description

This is an exposition of a bee propagation technique developed in the early twentieth century. With step-by-step instructions and helpful illustrations, "An Improved System of Propagating the Honey Bee" will appeal to those with an interest in the history and development of bee-keeping, and it is not to be missed by collectors of related literature. Contents include: "Formation of Honey Bees", "Find the Queen", and "Queen Nursery Formed". Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on Bee-keeping.