42 SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 



or they will melt the comb down in a few minutes ; and even then they 

 must be shaded while on the wagoH, to be sure of their safety. 



If old-style box hives are to be moved, set them on burlap sacks, 

 pulling them up on the sides of the hives until they are tight over the bot- 

 tom of the hives, and nail strips on each side of the hives over the sacks 

 about six inches from the bottoms. These strips will hold the sacks 

 to the hives ; then nail the tops on well and see that there are no places 

 about the hives where tjiey can escape, and lay them on their sides on the 

 wagon, and the bees will be safe, for they can get plenty of fresh air 

 through the sacks. 



If an accident should happen on the road, or the bees effect an escape, 

 the team should be removed from the wagon as soon as possible. 



THE STING OF BEES. 



We have now come to the bitter part of bee-keeping, for all dread the 

 sting of bees; and for this reason bee-keeping has not made the progress 

 it should, for many will not keep bees for that reason, and many have 

 killed their bees because they would sting, and a great number have sold 

 them for the same reason. 



The sting of the bee is the greatest if not the only objection to its cul- 

 tivation; but should it be an objection, or a thing in favor of its cultiva- 

 tion? I claim that its weapon of defense is a great thing in favor of its 

 cultivation, and it could hardly be- cultivated without it; for the Creator 

 certainly did not make any mistake when he. gave it a sting, and the knowl- 

 edge to use it as it does. 



Honey as food is considered a luxury by the majority of people, and 

 it can not be obtained in all sections and at all times ; and colonies of bees 

 could not stand around unmolested if the bees did not have some way to 

 defend their hives ; and if there were no honey in the hives, the intruders 

 would unnecessarily molest them and cause the keeper of the bees a loss. 



There are many reasons why the sting of the bees should not affect its 

 cultivation; and enduring a little pain now and then is no great objection 

 to their cultivation. It is possible, but not practicable to keep bees and never 

 get stung while molesting or wo'rking among them, by the use of veils 

 and gloves, and keeping them well subdued with smoke. 



The pain of bee-stings is soon easy to endure, and not so much to 

 be dreaded, for we get used to them, and endure them about as the old 

 ox does the lash. 



The sting of the bee has barbs similar to- those on fish-hooks; so when 

 it inserts it into the flesh it is unable to remove it, and tears itself from 

 it ; and when it is removed the tiny barbs will pull through the flesh or 

 break off and remain there. I have been stung many times, when the sting 



