Publisht Weekly at 118 Michigan St. 



George W. York, Editor. 



tl.OO a Year— Sample Copy Free. 



38th Year. 



CHICAGO, ILL., JULY 21, 1898. 



No. 29. 



{AU rigMs ir^emrf>ed hy tike l^oHli^rn JV^WHpa^r Syndicate, 

 of K-€JMlaI, Emgili^iid.) 



PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING, 



HINTS TO BEG-INNERS, 



(BT 



Author of '• Bees mid Bee-Keeping," "Pleasurable Bee-Keeping," eti- 



No. 3.— HANDLING BEES. 



If it wero not that the bee is so apt to use what Josh Bil- 

 lings appropriately terms its " business end " too freely, 

 .doubtless many more would embark in such an interesting 

 ,and profitable hobby. 



Tho bees are provided with a means of defense, which 

 ■they sometimes use iu the most provoking fashion, by a better 

 knowledge of how and when to work in the apiary, stinging 

 may be reduced to a minimum. It is no uncommon thing for 

 a bee-keeper, who is by no means expert in bee-management, 

 to examine his hives and take off full supers without a single 

 sting. Bees differ in temperament as much as we do, some 

 being almost as tame as flies, while others are quite the re- 

 verse. If any particular colony is found to contain bees that 

 are in the habit of attacking one without provocation, tlicy 

 mujit be got rid of, not by destroying the whole colony, but by 

 killing the queen and replacing her with another that is 

 known to produce more amiable workers. 



The spectacle of an expert at the various bee-exhibitions 

 held in connection with the Agricultural or Horticultural 

 shows, driving bees and handling them like so many flies, is 

 familiar to most people who have taken any interest in this 

 part of, tho show. But easy as it all seems to the onlooker, 

 even at a show a different state of things sometimes jirevails. 

 Robbing, when more than one colony is used, or wiien bees 

 are kept near by, may be commenced, particularly if the 

 manipulations take place at the end of the season ; and th(^n, 

 except for his skill in bee-management, the expert would fare 

 little better than the novice. 



It must not be supposed that colonies of bees can at all 

 times be managed with the same ease as in a bee-tent ; but 

 by increast knowledge of bee-keeping, and particularly of 

 what, to the bees, are disturbing influences, we shall know 

 the proper methods to adopt under the varying conditions in 

 which we may find the bees, and become able to conduct all 

 ordinary manipulations without discomfort. Still, as there is 

 neither hobby nor business that does not, along with pleasure, 

 at times cause inconvenience, and it may be, pain, we must 

 not expect to reap the great advantages of successful bee- 

 keeping without an occasional sting. Quietness and couli- 



dence are most essential in managing an apiary ; and neither 

 can be obtained without practice. Any one who determines 

 to succeed will do well to arrange with a friend or neighbor, 

 or an expert if one is near, for a course of practical instruc- 

 tion in the ordinary work in an apiary workt for profit. The 

 information obtained by such a course of practical instruction 

 would doubtless prevent much waste and loss by experiments. 

 It is well-known that old bee-beepers often boast of their 

 ability to hive swarms without protecting either face or 

 hands. They may double up their sleeves, and better for 

 them if they do, and hive the bees without a single sting being 

 received ; but that proves nothing in favor of the old, and 

 nothing against the new system of bee-keeping. It must, 

 however, be inferred by any casual observer of such perform- 

 ances that tliere are times when bees may be managed with- 

 out much fear of the operator being stung. That is exactly 

 what teachers of the modern system wish to become generally 

 known, viz.: that if bees are only interfered with when they 

 are in that amiable mood exhibited by them when swarming, 

 bee-keeping will lose much of its terror. Previous to leaving 

 the hive as a swarm, bees fill their honey-sacs, and it has been 

 found that they will also do this when frightened. Now, tho 

 it appears strange to talk of frightening bees, it is really an 

 easy thing to do, for a little smoke driven into the hive-en- 

 trance has the desired effect. The bees at once rush off to 

 their honey-cells and commence gorging, that is, filling their 

 honey-sacs, and it fs while they are thus busying themselves 

 that combs may be examined. If any of the bees show any 

 disposition to attack the operator, a little more smoke must be 



Direct-Draft Perfect 



BINGHAM 



BeeSmoker 



given, but it should be borne in mind that a largo amount of 

 smoke is harmful, and may not have the soothing influence 

 desired. At all times when there are in the hive cells contain- 

 ing unsealed honey, an occasional puff from the smoker will 

 be ample to subdue any even-tempered colony. 



The proper time to open hives is in warm, sunny weather 

 when the bees are working merrily. If they appear restless, 

 and run about the alighting-board, there is, probably, a dearth 

 of honey, and consequently manipulations are not advisable. 



HOW TO PROCKKD. 



To be quite prepared for easy and thorough examination 

 of any hive we must provide ourselves with veil and intimi- 

 dant. The veil should be made of white mosquito net, with a 



