260 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[Mat, 



protect the eyes, as strange to say, bee practice is the 

 same as pugilistic, to hit in the eye. With the head 

 bent forward, there is really very little of the face 

 or body exposed to a straightforward attack, and 

 such only bees make. It should be a fixed purpose 

 never to strike at a bee. Only an experienced and 

 cool bee-keeper can ever do that safely, and even 

 such at times make a miss and get the worst 

 of it. 



A perfectly self-possessed and skilled apiarian can 

 sometimes get rid of immediate annoyance by the 

 sacrifice of a bee's life, but even this is not a prac- 

 tice to be commended. A bee struck at becomes in- 

 furiated, maddened — and returns to the onslaught, 

 determined to "do and die." But we recommend all 

 beginners to arm themselves with a veil and a pair of 

 sheepskin gloves, when they have occasion to meddle 

 with bees. The veil must be a close one, for these 

 are prying little insects, and when they alight on a 

 veil will crawl and crawl, hither and thither, and if 

 there be an opening, are pretty sure to find it. A 

 bee, however peaceably inclined, will sting when it 

 finds itself in a " tight place." Those who keep 

 apiarian supplies for sale have suitable veils, and as 

 for gloves, there is nothing better than those used 

 in harvest-time in handling grain infested with 

 thistles. 



Thirdly, modern apiarian science has discovered a 

 short and easy method of taming or subduing bees. 

 A few puff's of smoke from a bunch of burning rags, 

 a pan of chips, or a bit of rotten wood, will usually 

 quiet a colony of bees so that it can be handled with 

 impunity. The explanation of this is that the smoke 

 excites a slight panic in the hives, so that the bees at 

 once fill themselves with honey, and when gorged with 

 honey they are disinclined to sting. 



Fourthly, most people, after being stung a few 

 times, come to think very little of of a bee-sting, the 

 pain and irritation being much less than at first. 



These considerations ought to suffice as an antidote 

 against the fear of being stung. If they do, and the 

 determination is formed to go into bee-keeping, this 

 advice should be followed : 



1 . Do not rush in hot haste into this pursuit. Read 

 up in regard to it. Master the first principles of the 

 art before you get a hive of bees. Be content to 

 begin in a small way, and take time to gain experi- 

 ence. One stock of bees is ordinarily enough to be- 

 gin with. 



2. Obtain, if possible, a colony of bees in a movable 

 frame hive. Bees have been kept profitably, and 

 may be still, in straw or common box hives, but to 

 attain the best results, a movable frame hive is neces- 

 sary ; with this there is access to the bees, and per- 

 fect control over them. With this, more may be 

 learnt about bees in a single season's observation 

 than by keeping them a dozen years in straw or box 

 hives. Such a hive can easily be obtained from 

 some of our leading apiarians. A stock of common 

 bees in such a hive will cost about ten dollars, inclu- 

 sive of patent right. 



3. Do not expect sudden and wonderful profits, 

 nor be discouraged by reverses at first. There is no 

 speculation in bee-keeping. Nevertheless, after some 

 years' experience, we firmly believe there are few 

 directions in which a little time and money can be 

 more judiciously expended. To be successful, how- 



ever, will require diligence, care, energy, and perse- 

 verance. — From the Canada Farmer, Feb. 15th, 

 1873. 



Exploring Bee-dom. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



If the beginner in apiculture has taken our ad- 

 vice, and begun to read up in relation to the nature 

 and habits of the bee, the result will be a great curi- 

 osity to verify some of the wonders of the hive by 

 actual inspection. It may be safely affirmed that if 

 no such desire be felt, there is no call to bee-keeping. 

 You may be cut out for a gardener, an angler, a 

 poultry fancier or a sheep-raiser, but you are not 

 cut out for a bee-keeper unless reading on the sub- 

 ject fires you with a strong desire to see the inside 

 of a hive. 



With a movable frame hive this curiosity can 

 easily be gratified, and a vast amount learned about 

 these remarkable insects in a very short space of 

 time. We will suppose that the reader, having de- 

 termined to begin as a bee-keeper, has purchased a 

 colony in such a hive. It is bought in the early 

 spring, when the risks of wintering are over, and 

 brought from a sufficient distance (at least three 

 miles off) to prevent the bees, from their memory of 

 localities, going back to the old apiary. There 

 stands the newly acquired treasure, in a spot 

 chosen for the season, beneath some not over thickly 

 foliaged shade or fruit tree, where it can have at 

 least partial protection from the fervour of the 

 noonday summer sun. You have watched, at first 

 at a respectable distance, and then somewhat 

 nearer, the goings out and comings in of the busy 

 little workers, during those early spring days 

 which were warmer than usual. The only peculiar- 

 ity about them that you have noticed has been that 

 quite a number of them, on returning to the hive, 

 have their thighs laden with a yellowish or reddish 

 looking substance, concerning which you have said 

 to yourself, with a sense of inward pleasure, " That's 

 honey." Well, it isn't honey, but it is something 

 just as essential to the well-being of the colony, as 

 we shall see presently. Your out-door observations 

 increase the curiosity which has been awakened by 

 your in-door readings. Now for its gratification. 

 But be sure to follow the directions about to be 

 given, whether you can see the wisdom of them or 

 not. 



Choose an hour toward midday, when the weather 

 is warm and pleasant, and the bees appear to be in 

 rollicking good humor, making the air resound with 

 their musical humming. Put on the close fitting 

 veil and sheepskin gauntlets described in a former 

 article. Get smoke of some kind, and gently blow a 

 few puffs in at the entrance of the hive. Hark, and 

 in a few seconds you will hear a peculiar buzzing, 

 which you will by and by learn to recognize quite 

 readily. It signals you that the smoke has taken 

 effect. That's enough. Don't over-do it. Bees can 

 be annoyed and angered by an overdose of smoke. 



