28 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



drumming upon it for a short time. The various pro- 

 cesses, however, for inducing bees to fill themselves with 

 honey, are more fully explained in the chapter on Artificial 

 Swarming. 



By the methods above described, I can superintend a 

 large Apiary, performing every operation necessary for 

 pleasure or profit, without as much risk of being stung as 

 must frequently be incurred in attempting to manage a 

 single hive in the ordinary way. 



Let all your motions about your hives be gentle and 

 slow. Accustom your bees to your presence ; never crush 

 or injure them, or breathe upon them in any operation ; 

 acquaint yourself fully with the principles of manage- 

 ment detailed in this treatise, and you will find that you 

 have little more reason to dread the sting of a bee, than 

 the horns of a favorite cow, or the heels of your faithful 

 horse. 



Equipped with a bee-hat (PI. XL, Figs. 25, 27) and 

 india-rubber gloves, even the most timid, by availing them- 

 selves of these principles, may open my hives and deal 

 with their bees with a freedom astonishing to many of 

 the oldest cultivators on the common plan : for in the 

 management of the most extensive Apiary, no operation 

 will ever be necessary, which by exasperating a whole 

 colony, impels them to assail with almost irresistible fury 

 the person of the bee-keeper 



