7 
receiving a sting. It is in this case not so much what he does as what 
he does not do. 
It is not to be understood that bees will always refrain from stinging 
if one remains somewhat passive in the vicinity of their hives, for the 
fact is that at some seasons common black bees and crosses having 
blood of this race fly some distance to attack passers-by, or even, with- 
out just provocation and with but slight warning, to plant a sting in 
the face of one who is standing near the apiary. But as the avoidance 
of such unpleasant occurrences depends largely upon the kind of bees 
kept, and, to a certain extent, upon an acquaintance with a few facts 
with which anyone of intelligence may easily familiarize himself, and 
the observance of certain precautions which are quite simple and after 
a little practice will become easy, and as the opening and manipulation 
of hives in securing honey, ete., is equally simple and attended with no 
greater risks, it is safe to say that almost anyone can, with perse- 
verance and the exercise of due caution, learn to manipulate bees with 
perfect freedom and without serious risk of being stung. 
HOW TO AVOID STINGS. 
First, by having gentle bees. If no other point of superiority over 
the common brown, or black, bee than that of gentleness could be fairly 
claimed for some of the races introduced, and some of the strains devel- 
oped in recent years, it would still be worth while to get them on this 
account alone. When the fact of superiority in several other important 
points is considered also, there should be no further question as to the 
advisability of procuring them in preference to the common variety. 
The beginner is advised never to think of doing otherwise. No one 
likes stings, and even the veteran who affects insensibility to the wrath 
of his charges will find his interest and pleasure in them much increased 
by replacing blacks and their crosses with better varieties. Nor is this 
merely to gratify a faney or for convenience alone. If, by reasonof the 
stinging qualities of the bees kept, an examination for the purpose of 
ascertaining the condition of a colony of bees becomes a disagreeable 
task to the one who cares for the apiary, little things necessary to the 
welfare of the colonies will be postponed or omitted altogether and the 
apiary will soon present a neglected appearance, and the actual profits 
will be affected. As arace, Carniolans are the gentlest; some strains 
of Italians equal in this respect average Carniolans, but the race native 
to Italy is by no means as gentle as that found in Carniola. The 
beginner need not hesitate, however, to undertake to manipulate pure 
Italians. 
Crossing well-established breeds produces bees which vary greatly in 
temper, especially in the first few generations, Only careful selection 
continued for some time will so fix the desirable traits as to result in 
their reproduction with a fair degree of certainty in the offspring. Bees 
having the blood of blacks and Italians are nearly always quite vicious 
