ESSEX SOCIETY. 87 



early application of any alkali, such as pearlash, or saleratus, dis- 

 solved in warm water. The bee seldom stings, except about 

 home, and here its watchful jealousy against intruders, keeps it 

 constantly " primed and loaded," and ready for fight. Yet, if 

 they get wonted to the visits of the keeper, or to frequent vis- 

 itors, they are much less apt to sting, than if left wholly unused 

 to such visits. In fact, if visited frequently, by persons who 

 move about the premises carefully and quietly, and who are 

 cleanly in their habits, and have no peculiarly strong human 

 odor, and who are careful not to breathe upon tliem, they are, 

 on the whole, a tolerably peaceable and gentlemanly crowd. 

 Never strike at them ; never breathe on them ; never go near 

 them when in, what the refined lady in the "Vicar of Wake- 

 field " called, " a muck of sweat.'" 



Just hear what old Butler says, who wrote on bees more 

 than two hundred years ago : — '• If thou wilt have the favor of 

 bees that they sting thee not, thou must avoid some things 

 which offend them ; thou must not be unchaste and uncleanly ; 

 for impurity and skutishness, themselves being most chaste and 

 neat, they utterly abhor ; thou must not come among them 

 smelling of sweat, or having a stinking breath, caused either 

 through eating of leeks, onions or garlick ; thou must not be 

 given to surfeiting or drunkenness ; thou must not come puffing 

 and blowing unto them, neither hastily stir among them, nor 

 resolutely defend thyself when they seem to threaten thee ; but 

 softly moving thy hand before thy face, gently put them by; 

 and lastly, thou must be no stranger unto them. In a word, 

 thou must be chaste, cleaniy, sweet, sober, quiet, and familiar^ 

 so they will love thee, and know thee from all other." (But- 

 ler, chap. 1, part 33.) 



For safety in operating among them, it is prudent, if the 

 apiarian has any fears, to smoke a pipe or cigar. With tobacco 

 smoke, you may drive before you, " a whole wilderness" of 

 bees. Their detestation of the nauseous weed is truly exem- 

 plary. 



There are very many excellent bee-hives, patented and un- 

 patented. We shall not discuss their various merits, but shall 

 only point out such principles in their general make, as shall 



