THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



91 



for them. Quarrels and disagreetiicnts would 

 seldom occur. It is perfect folly to start with 

 aft'right at the presence of a bee. The music 

 of their industrious hum, as they fly from 

 flower to flower, loading themselves with 

 honey, should no more awaken fear than the 

 noise of a loom, a spinning-jenny, or machin- 

 ery of any kind. If you meddle with the 

 works, you may be hurt, and the same is true 

 of the workers. But let them alone, and you 

 are safe enough in both cases. Nor is there 

 unusually any danger in quietly watching 

 bees as they issue from and return to their 

 hive. The stupid practice of hurrying about 

 and striking at any bee that may happen to 

 come near, is a sure way of exciting anger 

 and provoking the infliction of a sting. 

 Quiet movements, avoidance of all striking, 

 standing stock-still, with the head slightly 

 hung down, if the bees exhibit any signs of 

 excitement and auger, will secure exemption 

 from all harm. Even if pursued by enraged 

 bees, gliding into a thicket of bushes, and 

 remaining there a few seconds, will be found 

 a sure means of escape. 



The utmost liberties may be taken, and the 

 most delicate operations performed among 

 bees, with due care and precaution. As they 

 are excessively nervous and irritable crea- 

 tures, nothing should be done in a hurry. 

 All sudden jars and rude movements must be 

 avoided. They must be dealt with most 

 gently and tenderly. Any kindof smoke is an 

 eft'ectual means of subduing and quieting 

 them. It will prevent their becoming excited, 

 and reduce them to composure even after ex- 

 citement has commenced from any cause. 

 Bee-keepers who smoke tobacco, a -e accus- 

 tomed to employ the fumes of their favorite 

 weed for this purpose, and it accomplishes 

 it very effectually. But it produces a stupi- 

 fyiug and irritating eft'ect afterwards. Smoke 

 from chips, saw dust, cotton rags, or even 

 paper, will answer as well. The most con- 

 venient source of smoke is a bit of dry-rotted, 

 hard wood, or "punk" as it is sometimes 

 called. It burns without flame, will keep 

 alight until the whole is consumed, may be 

 laid close at hand, and readily used whenever 

 wanted. When there is a necessity for open- 

 ing a hive, it is well to blow two or three 

 pufts of smoke in at the entrance; within 



five minutes or so, it will have taken eflect. 

 Then with slow and cautious movements, the 

 hive may be opened. Usually a quiet, con- 

 tented hum, will show that the inmates are 

 peaceable. But if there is excitement and 

 more or less rush hurridly out, a few addi- 

 tional pufls of smoke will reduce them to 

 submission, so that it will be safe to proceed. 

 Care should be taken not to crush or kill any 

 of the bees. The slaughter of a single one 

 will sometimes enrage a colony, previously 

 quite docile. But should such an accident 

 occur, a fresh dose of smoke will restore 

 order. 



Smoke is thought to have two eftects. 

 First, it creates a slight panic among the bees, 

 leading them to fill themselves with honey, 

 and in this condition they are no more dis- 

 posed to sting than an Englishman is to quar- 

 rel just after eating a good dinner. There is 

 a sense of fulness, contentment and satisfac- 

 tion. Secondly, it neutralizes the poison- 

 odor. Anger causes bees to elevate their 

 tails, and a tiny drop of poison will ooze out, 

 the odor of which rouses the war spirit . The 

 same eft'ect is produced when a bee is killed. 

 Smoke counteracts this odor, and so induces 

 quiet. There is a third effect of smoke which 

 may be brought about, though it is not good 

 policy to have recourse to it, because it leaves 

 them cross and irritable. A strong dose of 

 tobacco, or puft'-ball smoke, will absolutely 

 stupefy them, so that they will drop from the 

 combs, and lie harmless and helpless at the 

 bottom of the hive, until restored to their 

 senses by fresh air. 



Bees employ a substance called propolis to 

 fasten frames and fill up crevices in the hive. 

 In hot weather this is quite soft and waxy, 

 but in cool weather, it becomes hard and 

 brittle like glue. In opening a hive and tak- 

 ing out frames, the propolis is of course dis- 

 turbed, and when it is hard, this cannot be 

 done witliout some jarring. To avoid this as 

 much as possible, it is advisable to use a form 

 of hive and style of frame that can only be 

 glued very little; and also to open the hive 

 and operate upon it in the middle of the day, 

 and when the weather is warm. 



We advise bee-keepers, and especially be- 

 ginners, to use a veil and gloves. They give 

 confidence, induce calmness, and guard 



