344 THE bee-kbepbr's guide ; 



first better protect their faces, and, perhaps, even their hands, 

 till time and experience show them that fear is vain ; then 

 they will divest themselves of all such useless encumbrances. 

 Bees are more cross when they are gathering no honey, and at 

 such times, black bees and hybrids especially, are so irritable 

 that even the experienced apiarist will wish a veil. Exposing 

 honey about the apiary at such times will increase quickly this 

 irritability. There are some bees that are chronically cross, 

 and are ever about with their menacing cry. Doolittle advises 

 killing these at once. He uses a small paddle-like board for 

 this purpose. I have never minded these chronic grumblers. 

 They usually respect indifference ; at least they rarely sting me. 



THE BEST BEE VEIL. 



This should be made of black tarlatan, or, better, silk 

 tulle, sewed up like a bag, a half yard long, without top or 

 bottom, and with a diameter of the rim of a common straw- 

 hat. Gather the top with braid, so that it will just slip over 

 the crown of the hat— else, sew it to the edge of the rim of 

 some cheap, cool hat ; in fact, I prefer this style— and gather 

 the bottom with rubber cord or rubber tape, so that it may be 

 drawn over the hat rim, and then over the head, as we adjust 

 the hat. 



Some prefer to dispense with the rubber cord at the bottom 

 (Fig. 162), and have the veil long so as to be gathered in by 

 the coat or dress. If the black tarlatan troubles by coloring 

 the shirt or collar, or if the silk tulle is thought too expensive, 

 the lower part may be made of white netting ; indeed, all may 

 be made of white netting except a small square to be worn 

 just in front of the eyes. When in use, the rubber cord draws 

 the lower part close about the neck, or the lower part tucks 

 within the coat or vest (Fig. 162), and we are safe. This kind 

 of a veil is cool, does not impede vision at all, and can be made 

 by any woman at a cost of less than 20 cents. Common buck- 

 skin or sheepskin gloves can be used, as it will scarcely pay to 

 get special gloves for the purpose, for the most timid person— 

 I speak from experience — will soon consider gloves as unneces- 

 sary and awkward. 



Special rubber gloves are sold by those who keep on hand 



