by Colin Burbidge
Dr. James Dangar, one of Murchington’s biggest landowners with over 200 acres and for many years Head of Exeter Diocese Training College was an enthusiastic bee keeper and was glad of any chance to spread the word. On November 4th, 1891, the Devon & Exeter Gardeners Improvement Society met at the Guildhall Exeter for a lecture “Bees & Beekeeping” by Dr. Dangar, which the Western Times faithfully reported the following day.
Dr. Dangar delivered his lecture which was serious, amusing, and instructive throughout. Beginning with an explanation of the structure of the bee, of which there were 100 varieties.
In classical times he said Virgil wrote a great deal on Bees, but in talking about a King Bee, Virgil made a mistake, for whatever they might do, kings did not lay eggs (laughter).
Dr. Dangar explained the different methods of obtaining a queen bee, advised on feeding and illustrated his remarks with diagrams and apparatus, and concluded by saying it was of no use to keep bees in towns. A friend of his Mr. Ralph Sanders tried to do this; he would frequently say “It’s no use Dr. Dangar I can’t keep those bees”. “What’s the cause of this”? Dr. Dangar asked.
“Oh, it’s the Heavitree Brewery (laughter) The bees would go to the brewery and find the beer so good and drink so much, they would tumble in. Those that did not fall in came home in so drunken a condition they could scarcely crawl into the hive”
Neither could bees be kept anywhere near a mine, owing to their liking for arsenic and consequent poisoning.
Discussions followed and Dr. Dangar answered a number of questions. Mr. Carlile asked as to the best method of curing a bee sting. Dr. Dangar replied that “If you make up your mind not to care for a bite, you become impregnated through your system- just as in the case of vaccination- that by and by you don’t feel it much” (laughter) He never got stung but protected himself by gloves and a veil and was always perfectly confident when handling bees. To persons who were nervous, however, he said distinctly “do not keep bees at all”, and to persons who would get stung the most valuable remedy was ammonia.
Mr. Carlile said he found tobacco mixed with spittle to be a good remedy. After further questions the meeting broke up with warm thanks to Dr. Dangar.