A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



nish which they use to stop up cracks or 

 cover rough surfaces, -- that they are rarely 

 able to sting; but if nervous, you can sub- 

 ject the main bunch to a few whiffs of smoke. 

 A queen never uses her lance except on a 

 rival queen. This condition, of course, does 

 not obtain at other times; so before such 

 work as removing and replacing sections or 

 foundations, the smoker must be lighted. 

 When burning freely blow a few whiffs of 

 smoke into the entrance and about the cor- 

 ners of the hive. This stupefies the bees, and 

 renders manipulation of them and an inva- 

 sion of their domain comparatively safe; 

 though it is always advisable to wear a veil 

 made of mosquito netting, to fit on the hat 

 and hanging well down on the shoulders. 

 Gloves can also be worn. But the Italian 

 bee, the best to keep, is such a gentle little 

 creature that familiarity will end in the 

 gloves being discarded. 



After the abdicating queen and her fol- 

 lowing have left the old hive, there remain 



91 



