THE HONEYBEE CAPABLE OF BBINQ TAMED. 29 



be incurred in attempting to manage, in the simplest way, 

 the common hives. Those who are timid may, at first, use 

 a bee-dress ; though they will soon discard every thing of 

 the kind, unless they are of the number of those to whom 

 the bees have a special aversion. Such unfortunates are sure 

 to be stung whenever they show themselves in the vicinity 

 of a bee-hive, and they will do well to give the bees a very 

 wide berth. 



Apiarians have, for many years, employed the smoke of 

 tobacco for subduing their bees. It deprives them, at once, 

 of all disposition to sting, but it ought never to be used for 

 such a purpose. If the construction of the hives will not 

 permit the bees to be sprinkled with sugar water, the smoke 

 of burning paper or rags will answer every purpose, and 

 the bees will not be likely to resent it ; whereas when they 

 recover from the effect of the tobacco, they not unfrequently 

 remember, and in no very gentle way, the operator who 

 administered the nauseous dose. 



Let all your motions about your hives be gentle and slow. 

 Accustom your bees to your presence ; never crush or in- 

 jure them in any operation; acquaint yourself fully with 

 the principles of management detailed in this treatise, and 

 you will find that you have but little more reason to dread the 

 sting of a bee, than the horns of your favorite cow, or the 

 heels of your faithful horse. 



3* 



