CHAPTER VI. 



MANIPULATING BEES. 



How many are deterred from keeping bees simply by the fear 

 of being stung ! And though I do not pretend that the 

 amateur will never get a sting, I must say that this bugbear 

 of stings is greatly overi'ated by those who are not accustomed 

 to manage bees. In handling bees quietness and confidence 

 are quite indispensable — never be in a hurry when you are 

 manipulating, for the old provei-b, " More haste, worse speed," 

 is very true with regard to bees, as any sceptical person may 

 soon demonstiate to his own satisfaction (?). It may be some con- 

 solation to the intending bee-keeper to know, that the oftener he 

 is stung the less annoyance will each subsequent sting occasion 

 him. At first they swell a great deal and cause much pain and 

 irritation; but after a time the swelling becomes less and less, 

 until a sting only causes a little temporary pain, and no swell- 

 ing whatever takes place. It would appear that the person 

 becomes inoculated with the poison (formic acid). 



What to Do when Stung during a Manipulation. 



When stung during a manipulation, the operator should 

 retire a few yards from the hive (as the smell of the poison 

 iri'itates the bees extremely), and should at once pull out the 

 sting — taking care not to press the poison-bag, thereby empty- 

 ing its contents into the part stung. The back of the nail or 

 a knife is a good thing with which to extract a sting. A 

 little smoke blown on to the place will help to hide the smell 

 from the bees. Much relief will often be experienced by bathing 

 the sting in a mixture composed of one teaspoonful of ammonia 

 to a pint of water ; and if the hands are dipped in this just 

 before a manipulation, care being taken to apply it to the wrists 

 also, it will act as a very good sting preventi\-e, the hands being 

 again dipped in it if they get dry during a long manipulation. 



