CHAPTER VII 



SUBDUING AND THE MANIPULATION OF BEES 



To the novice the sting of the bee looms large, and 

 inspires more or less dread according to individual tem- 

 perament, and no doubt many are deterred from keep- 

 ing bees simply from the perfectly natural fear of being 

 stung ; this fear in many instances, being out of all pro- 

 portion to the pain inflicted by an occasional sting. 



Under certain conditions, and under certain circum- 

 stances, bees are far less disposed to sting than at other 

 times, and the beekeeper who seizes upon these circum- 

 stances or conditions when they arise, or who artificially 

 creates them, may safely keep his bees, and examine his 

 hives with but little risk of being stung. 



Bees are usually quiet : — 



1. In the middle of the day during the honey flow. 



2. Immediately after swarming, when gorged with 

 honey. 



Bees are disposed to be irritable : — 



1. When no honey is coming in, and all stores are 

 sealed over. 



2. When queenless. 



3. When robbing has started in earnest. 



4. During dull or rainy weather when confined to 

 their hives. 



When a bee is gorged with honey it is seldom in- 

 clined to sting. This may possibly be due to a comfortable 

 after dinner sort of feeling, but is more probably due to 

 fear ; for when really frightened the bee's first impulse 



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