42 PLEASUBABLE BEE-KEEPING. 



that a bee will sting, particularly if they are not 

 roughly handled or crushed. When bees leave the 

 hive as a swarm, they have a two or three days' 

 supply of food on which to exist, and also to use in 

 the formation of wax with which to build combs in 

 their new home. 



As it is known that bees are most easily managed 

 at swarming time, and during the honey-flow, it 

 follows that we must endeavour to put them into a 

 similar quiet and apparently contented condition 

 whenever the examination of a colony is deemed 

 necessary. The first step to this end is frightening 

 the bees. This no doubt sounds odd, but it is none 

 the less true ; and we find that when bees are 

 frightened they rush to the honey cells and commence 

 gorging themselves with honey. It is when the bees 

 are thus engaged that the examination of the combs 

 may take place. An occasional puff of smoke along 

 the tops of the frames will quiet any bees that show 

 signs of attacking the manipulator. In all operations 

 carried on in the apiary, confidence is essential to 

 success. "Without it, jerky movements and clumsy 

 manipulations must occur to irritate the bees. 



Intimidants. 



The commonest method adopted to frighten the bees 

 is by introducing into the hive smoke, produced by 

 burning brown paper, fustian, touchwood, or anything 

 that win smoulder. The bee-keeper who indulges in 

 the fragrant weed has at all times a powerful intimi- 

 dant. Those who cannot, or do not, use a pipe, must 



