HOW TO QUIET AND HANDLE BEES 



The avoidance of stings, a thing greatly 

 sought even by the veteran beekeeper, is 

 largely a matter of care and the moderate use 

 of the smoker. 



The fear of smoke seems to be inbred in the 

 bees, and the most savage of them are quickly 

 subdued when given a whiff of it. It is not 

 necessary to overwhelm them with it until 

 they are completely dazed, but just enough to 

 let them know that they are mastered, a lesson 

 that they soon learn. Bees are easily fright- 

 ened, and a little smoke blown in at the en- 

 trances of their hives, supplemented with a 

 pounding on the lids, makes them panic-stricken 

 and causes them to gorge themselves with honey, 

 and it is this condition that renders them easy 

 of manipulation. It is a physical impossibil- 

 ity for a bee to sting when it is full of honey, 

 and this accounts for the easy manner in which 

 they can be handled when they have swarmed. 

 In order to sting, a bee must be able to bend its 

 abdomen, and when it is filled with honey as 

 it is at the time of swarming, and also when 



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