1891 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



of cardinal ribbon: and I soon discovered tiiat a 

 certain colony of hybrids took it in high dudg- 

 eon if I approached" too near. That ribbon was 

 to them a red rag flaunted in their faces, and 

 they rose up at once to resent the insult. Some- 

 times, when necessary to open the hive. I woukl 

 make up my mind to (luietly ignore them, for 

 they never touched my liands nor tried to ci'aui 

 beneath Tuy veil. But to feel them hurling 

 themselves like shot against the side of my hat, 

 and to hear them siz-z-z-zing as they burrowed 

 into that knot of riblH)n. generally demoralized 

 me to such an extent that I would close the 

 hive and beat an igudminious reticat. I liked 

 the bit of bright color on my hat. and was un- 

 willing to part with it; so, in deference to their 

 feelings. I pinned over it a piece of tissue paper. 

 But a stn)ng breeze would sometimes tear off 

 the paper, or !)eichance release and expose only 

 a corner of the ribbon, and at once the bees 

 made me aware of the fact. So they conquer- 

 ed finally, and the objectionable color was re- 

 moved. Nkixy Linswik. 

 March 20. 



[My good friend Nellie, you have given us 

 some very valuable facts at a time when we 

 wanted them, and I am glad of some suggestion 

 in the way of something cheaper and better than 

 rubber gloves. From what experience I have 

 had, I believe that cheap cotton gloves, 

 with the fingei's cut off, as you suggest, will be 

 the best and cheapest thing you can get. I 

 have always felt sure that a good bee-keeper 

 needs all the fingers God has given hi?n. and he 

 wants those so free and unobstructed that he 

 may not only have all his fingers but all his wits 

 at his fingers' ends. Your experience with that 

 red ribbon seems to settle the matter: and now 

 comes a question for our scientific friends: Why 

 do bees object to red? It has been said, that 

 our domestic animals recognize it as the color 

 of blood: and the sight of blood infuriates not 

 only animal kind, but even man in his savage 

 state. We are told that the American Indians, 

 at the sight of blood, often become raving 

 maniacs, especially when their worst passions 

 are stirred up by some quarrel among the tribes. 

 But our little friends the bees have no red 

 blood in their bodies. W"hy. then, should those 

 colors arouse their ire and promiJt them to 

 sting? Will Prof. Cook come to our help?] 



WOMAN'S DRESS IN THE APIARY. 



BEE-VEII,S. (il.OVES, ETC. 



This is to me an interesting subject, because 

 I am always looking for improvements. But I 

 have not been led to make much changf in the 

 dress I stumbled on when I began working 

 among the bees. In making preparations I read 

 all that my small stock (at that time) of bee- 

 literature contained on the subject. My expe- 

 rience may help others. 



From the A B C I got Mi's. Harrison's idea of 

 a hat: but I have discarded that, except the 

 cape, because I found that a straw hat, with not 

 too wide a brim, is a better protection from the 

 sun. I want the hat as light as possible, and 

 not to press on or cover my forehead, and to 

 have an air-sjjace at the top. I like the cape to 

 tie under the arms, and I generally fasten the 

 hat on my head with a long hat-pin", or an elas- 

 tic, because sometimes it will get disarranged 

 just when I can not put my hands uj) to fix it. 

 That was one objection to Mrs. Hari'ison"s hat 

 —it would slip about on tiie head. 



For the dress. I wanted something to fasten at 

 the neck over the cape. I had in thi' closet a 

 linen duster, close-fitting, plainly gored, double- 



breasted, with two coat-like pockets. I put i 

 on over the cape of my hat, and belted it at the 

 waist. It covered my dress entirely; it was neat 

 and tight, and the pockets were ever so handy. 

 As it is linen the bees do not object to it. and it 

 is light and cool. I have found it so exactly the 

 thing. I have never changed: but when it was 

 worn out I bought another, and last spring I 

 went to every large drygoods house in Chicago 

 for another, but they are no longer in stock. 

 They use mohair now, and I was obliged to get 

 the linen and make one. I have paid ?<2.flO for 

 the ready-made garments, but this cost a little 

 less. 



For my hands, I have gloves, with gauntlets 

 to fasten over the sleeves with elastics, some- 

 times; if very warm, only linen mittens made of 

 the samemateiial as my coat; and it is rare that 

 I get a sting through "them; but I want some- 

 thing on to keep my hands clean, and to pre- 

 vent tanning. Some of my gloves have the ends 

 of the fingers off. I use these when I want to 

 work fast. I do not mind stings if they are not 

 on my face. 



When taking off honey I usually put on an 

 apron to keep my dress clean; and. in fact, late- 

 ly, more often I tie an apron around my waist 

 instead of a belt. It answers the same purpose 

 — to keep the bees from crawling up to my head; 

 and. as I am so often on my knees when at 

 work, it gets the grass-stains and dirt, and can 

 be easily washed. Miss Wilson's apron is just 

 the thing, because it is so snug. Vou do not 

 want any thing that will blow alxjut. and catch 

 on hives and bushes. 



As far as dress is concerned, I do not think a 

 woman need to get any more stings than a man. 

 In my armor I am almost sting-i)roof. It is an 

 exception to have one on my body. I know I do 

 not get the most stings in this apiary, unless I 

 am the only one at wcn'k. S. M. Stow. 



South Evanston, 111., ]\Iarch 30. 



SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD 



TO WORKING AMONG BEES DURING 



VERY HOT WEATHER. 



ALSO SOMETHING AHOUT REFRESHMENTS FOR 

 THE BEE-KEEPER. 



I see in GLEANiN<is. March 1.5, that ladies 

 are to have a department. I like a mixed ses- 

 sion, as a general thing: but there are some 

 subjects that we can profitably talk over among 

 ourselves, that gentlemen have little or no spe- 

 cial interest in. As bee-keepers, we need differ- 

 ent clothing and far lighter implements. I'm 

 not young, and far from stiong: yet I can ac- 

 complish considerable by taking care of myself. 

 I have to be careful and not get overheated: 

 and I can not cany much weight in clothing, 

 either. Oiu' hives are so situated, that, during 

 some time of day. they can be opened in the 

 shade: but hiving swarms has to be done in the 

 sun. many times with the thermometer one 

 hundred in the shade. AVhat clothing is best 

 for m(^ to wear may not be best or pi-ojjer for 

 another. I keep my clothing, that I wear to 

 work in the apiary, in the honey-house, and go 

 out there and remove my outside clothing, and 

 hang it up. to put on again when I am through. 

 During June. July, and August, in this locality 

 I could not endure a ticking apron. ]My under- 

 clothing is the American costume, and is high 

 in the neck, reaching from my ankles to my 

 wrists: and if I have to hive be(>s when it is 

 one hundred in the shade. I put on over this 

 one skii't, a wet head cap. and then tie on my 

 bee-hat, and i)ut on a linen sacque, which keeps 

 all bees fi'om getting uiidei- the cape of the hat. 

 and gloves with gauntlets. As soon as I am 



