10 
Use of the Smoker. 
In the ease of a stock of unknown temper, the bee-keeper 
will be well advised to start by blowing a little smoke in at 
the door of the hive. This startles the bees stationed near 
the entrance, who will pass into the interior of the hive, and 
spread the alarm among the other bees. The operator then 
passes to the back of the hive, and quietly removes the roof, 
This, when placed upside down beside the hive, provides a 
convenient receptacle in which to place the quilts, all of which, 
except the lowest, are removed entirely from the hive. The 
quilt next the bees is now rolled gently back, while a little 
smoke is blown over the tops of the frames, and sometimes 
between them also. In most cases not a single angry bee will 
be seen, since all are obsessed with the idea that it is a fire with 
which they have to deal, and they will be too busy filling up 
with honey to think of using their stings. In such a frame 
of mind they will crawl over the bee-keeper’s hands and face 
without making the slightest attempt to sting, unless he is 
clumsy enough to pinch or otherwise injure them. 
Some experts do not approve of blowing smoke in at the 
entrance, and begin by lifting off the roof. With a good- 
tempered stock, or in the height of the honey harvest, this 
may be all right, but there is always the chance that the 
removal of the roof may jar the hive to such an extent that a 
few bees may rush out of doors in search of the disturber of 
their peace. These have not encountered any smoke, and the 
sight of a bee-keeper so close at hand confirms them in their 
first notion that it is a robber they have to deal with. They 
will fly at the intruder, menacing him with their stings, and 
will go with him from hive to hive, annoying him all the time 
he is in the apiary. If such angry bees are numerous, and it 
is essential that the bee-keeper should proceed with his work, 
he will have to apply more smoke to the bees in the hive. 
These will become so alarmed that in time the panic will be 
communicated to the bees on the wing. The necessity for 
such extreme measures should be avoided, 
