CHAPTEE VI. 



SUBDUING AND HANDLING BEES. 



Bees have a means of defence which they bring into 

 instantaneous use when provoked, and it is therefore 

 wise that a bee-keeper should become acquainted with 

 the pecuharities of bees, their likes and dislikes, and 

 thus be able to manage them with ease while reducing 

 stinging to a minimum. There are frequently indi- 

 vidual stocks that show a great propensity for stinging 

 at all times when they are approached ; but if such be 

 the case the remedy is clear. The queen must be 

 removed and another introduced, bred in a colony the 

 bees of which are amiable while showing other desir- 

 able characteristics. In country districts many an old 

 bee-keeper is looked upon by his neighbours as a great 

 wonder, inasmuch as he goes uncovered amongst his 

 bees and hives swarms without being stung. 



The ease with which bees are handled at such times 

 is due to the fact that they are bent upon the object of 

 clustering, preparatory to moving off with their queen 

 to a new home. If hiving takes place as soon as the 

 bees have clustered, or hang in a pear-shaped mass 

 from the branch of a tree, or elsewhere, it is seldom 



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