ArPLIANCES FOR SUBDUING AND HANDLING BEES 



71 



132. Various Cloves — Thick woollen gloves, covered with a 

 pair of white cotton gloves long enough in the wrist to run up 

 on the cuff, are sometimes used; but they are really "clumsy 

 things," and are difficult to work with (169). If soaked in 

 water immediately beforehand, the bees will not be inclined 

 to sting them; and if stung, their thickness prevents the sting 

 from entering the flesh. India rubber gloves are good pro- 

 tectors, and are not inconvenient to work with. Ordinary 

 leather gloves may, sometimes, be made to serve the purpose. 

 They are steeped for a minute or two in hot water; are then 

 put upon the hands; and while being held before a fire, have 

 beeswax well rubbed into the leather. It is said that bees 

 commonly respect such gloves, and that if the tips of a finger 

 and thumb be removed from both gloves, and the exposed flesh 

 be anointed with wax, all manipulations can be carried out 

 with safety. Burkitt Bee Gloves (169) are made of soft wdrite 

 leather, having attached a linen gauntlet coming well up the 

 arm, and bordered with red t:iraid. These gloves are quite 

 ornamental when new; the bees do not show any inclination to 

 attack them ; and operations can be performed without 

 inconvenience. 



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Photo by] 



EXAMINING THE TOP CRATE— A CIGARETTE 



[./. G. Digges. 

 "SMOKER." 



