174 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



sesses some supernatural power which it would seem he exerts 

 over the bees, enabling him to handle them at will. The operator 

 may pick them up by the handfuls, and as I have seen one 

 demonstrator do, may place a handful in his mouth, afterwards 

 allowing the bees to fly forth one at a time. Such manipulations 

 seem supernatural to the uninitiated who habitually regard bees 

 as vicious and untamable; but as a matter of fact, it is quite 

 simple and I assure you that it will be quite possible to teach any 

 and all of you to handle bees with a similar proficiency. 



There are a few fundamental features. In the first place, 

 move slowly when operating a colony of bees or when moving 

 about the bee yard. Quick movements invariably attract bees. 

 They fly quicker than the eye ; you cannot dodge them. Another 

 key to the situation is the use of a little smoke, not necessarily 

 tobacco smoke, but a smudge made from punky wood, excelsior 

 or old burlap sacking. Such a smudge is easily made in this 

 instrument which his called a bee smoker. Every bee keeper 

 should have one. It is almost as requisite in handling bees as 

 knives and forks are in eating. This is merely one type of a 

 smoker and illustrates a strong type. It is known as the Stand- 

 ard Root Smoker. In this tin can a smudge is built ; before 

 opening a colony puff a few jets of smoke in at the entrance: 

 two or three will be sufficient and will materially quiet the 

 inmates. Occasionally an obstreperous colony requires more 

 smoke. In handling Cyprian bees, smoke should be avoided, 

 but in place of it the colony should be jolted or jarred. This 

 procedure is quite the reverse of that recommended in handling 

 all other races of bees. Pounding on the hive, jars or jolts will 

 usually excite races other than the Cyprian, and sometimes cause 

 them to be cross. The use of smoke or in case of the Cyprian 

 bee, the purpose of this jarring, is to cause the bees to gorge 

 with honey. In this condition it is known that they are less 

 prone to sting, which of course explains the procedure. 



The majority of bee keepers prefer to protect their faces from 

 possible stings by the wearing of the veil which is put over a 

 broad brimmed hat, like a straw hat, and which comes down 

 over the face, fastening under the coat, or drawing tightly 

 around the chest. Professional bee keepers, however, do not 

 wear gloves, but prefer to take a sting occasionally rather than 

 to be inconvenienced by them. The beginner, however, may 

 gain confidence by using them, yet he will soon discard them. 



