i64 TJIE APIARY. 



rations ought to be performed very carefully and gently. 

 Especial care should be taken not to prise the lid 

 upwards, by way of wrenching- it off, for the frames 

 and comte are generaMy secured thereto, and there is 

 a liability of rendkig the combs with it ; this will greatly 

 irritate the bees, and be otherwise injurious. When a 

 hive of bees is enraged, thare is little chance of pacify- 

 ing them ; it is best, under such circumstances, to " give 

 in," at once, and not attempt to perform any operation, 

 but to shut liie hive up and beat a retreat, benefiting by 

 the experience, in orda- to do better a day or so after- 

 wards. There are various devices for intimidating or 

 conciliating the bees, and one of these already spoken of 

 is — smoke. So next time the experimenter makes his 

 attempt let him raise the lid an inch or so, and blow a 

 few puffe of smoke into the hive, which will cause the 

 bees to retreat This is best done by using our tube 

 liimigator, with a little of the prepared fungus lighted. 

 Pipes or cigars are not convenient to use for this purpose 

 when the head is enveloped in the dress. As soon as 

 the lid is removed, a few bees will fly out to learn the 

 cause of such an interference. Conciliation should then 

 be offered by having at hand a little, sweetened watet^ 

 which may be sprinkled, or rather let drop, from a 

 feather or a brush. The sudden motion of the hand 

 reqmred in the act of sprinkling irritates the bees, so 

 that, instead of making them our friends, they may 

 become our foes. Mr. Langstroth recommends that a 



