THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



127 



than they can cover. As fast as 

 they become strong enough to 

 cover more, put one in the centre. 

 If you have not got the comb, use 

 foundation. Never allow the bees 

 to hang out, or even think of doing 

 so. Add combs at the right time 

 and only then. Do not let them 

 get the start of you . Look at them 

 often, and supply their every need. 

 Do not let them get queenless, full 

 of moth, or deficient of comb, pol- 

 len or honey. Give them your at- 

 tention, and you will soon have 

 your hives full of bees, and after- 

 wards full of hone}^ and then 

 3'our pockets full of money. 

 Editor of'-'-Deseret Home" 



Salt Lake City, Utah. 



A GUIDE TO 



THE BEST METHODS OF 



BEEKEEPING. 



By J. L. Christ. 



{Continued from p. 10.-, Vol. II.) 

 THE STING OF THE BEE. 



Concerning the nature of the 

 body of the queen, it is especiall}' 

 noticeable that she, like the other 

 bees, is furnished wnth a sting 

 which is somewhat longer than 

 that of the workers. 



The sting of the bees is gener- 

 ally on the most extreme part of 

 the abdomen, and when they are 

 quiet, it is concealed from view. 

 When one presses this extreme por- 

 tion of the abdomen, there appear 

 two white bodies which together 



form a kind of opening in which the 

 sting is found if it is in the body. 

 It is like a little dart which, although 

 very delicate, yet from one end to 

 the other is hollow like a tube. 



One can confound the sting with 

 the horny ancl very pointed sheath, 

 as the sting projects through the 

 most extreme part of this sheath 

 and, together with the poisonous 

 moisture, is thrust out at the same 

 time with force. Indeed, the sting 

 is double : there are two of them 

 which come forth at the same or at 

 diflerent times at the pleasure of the 

 bee. The most extreme one is cut 

 like a saw and has fifteen barbs or 

 teeth which are so crooked that they 

 point towards the root of the sting, 

 so that when it penetrates the 

 flesh, it cannot be removed from the 

 wound without rending it. For 

 this reason, the bee must withdraw 

 it by main force. If she does this 

 too quickly, the sting is broken, 

 and remains in the wound, in which 

 it separates from the body of the 

 bee, at the same time tearing the 

 poison-bag, carrying with it a part 

 of the intestines. This separation 

 of the sting is absolute death to 

 the bee, and mortification must 

 forthwith follow. 



But if a bee stings the other 

 bees, which can only take place 

 between the rings on the abdomen, 

 the sting does not remain fast, ex- 

 cept in rare instances when it pen- 

 etrates the horny segment, but the 

 sting is always fatal to the at- 

 tacked bee. 



But notwithstanding the queen 

 like the common bees, is furnished 

 with a sting, it is seldom used by 



