196 MANAGEMENT IN SPRING. 



Almost every writer on the subject of bees has 

 given a cure for their sting, and a recipe for a bee- 

 dress. As remedies against the venom, olive-oil, 

 vitriol, laudanum, vinegar, and even simple water, 

 have each their advocates ; and old Butler prescribes 

 the rubbing the wound with simple saliva. We have 

 found no remedy so efficacious as the juice of a plant 

 we have seldom to go far in search of, the common 

 dock, bruised, and rubbed instantly on the wound, 

 after the sting has been withdrawn. The rubbing 

 should be continued for ten or fifteen minutes ; it will 

 allay the pain, and very generally prevents the part 

 from swelling. With regard to defensive coverings, 

 we have seen none described which were not greatly 

 wanting in simplicity and facility of management. 

 Many of them, also, are very uncomfortable to the 

 wearers, particularly the cloth hoods which reach 

 down over the shoulders, and by confining and con- 

 centrating the heat of the body and breath about the 

 head and face, give more annoyance than a few stings 

 would do. We have tried most of these dresses, and 

 have laid them aside ; and now we use only a thin 

 gauze or crape veil, sewed quite round the edge of 

 the hat-rim, the projection of which keeps the veil 

 at due distance from the face. To prevent the bees 

 from getting within it, the sides of the veil are sewed 

 together behind, and the under part of it stuffed 

 within the neck of the vest. This, with a pair of stout 

 leather or woollen gloves, forms our whole defensive 

 armour; it is put off and on in a few seconds, and 

 proves perfectly sufficient for the purpose intended. 



