brood chamber is untouched, the addition of a super, only if clumsily 

 handled, may seriously dislocate the ordered sequence of events in 

 the bees' working day, and ruffle their normal calm serenity. It 

 is easiW done. On the other hand, a novice who has to undertake 

 a major operation in a stock, will experience less provocation if he 

 selects a warm sunny afternoon, starting at about noon when all 

 the older and foraging bees are away in the fields. So the beginner 

 as he becomes accustomed to bees, must not only learn to do the 

 right thing at the right time, but must acquire restraint. He should 

 train, himself to act gently and thoughtfully when handling bees and 

 occupied hives, so as to avoid irritating or injuring any of his little 

 friends. 



^V0©O 0» MtTAI. ROD 

 IN CLOSCJ) HE.fwt 



flO. 



20" 



MflNiPULATlNO CLOTli 



r\G: 4 



The first thing to do before starting anything in the apiary is 

 to stop and think. It really is most important, and this initial step 

 should become a habit and precede every major operation. Do not 

 just go straight to a hive and start opening it up right away, but 

 make it a golden rule in all bee-keeping — Think first, then act. 



Plan out exactly what it is proposed to do and why, satisfying 

 yourself first that what is intended is not only the best course, but 

 that the right time to do it has also been chosen. 



Having considered each step of the manipulation, then decide 

 what equipment will require to be readily available, and handy to the 

 stock which is to be the subj ect of the proposed operation. Otherwise 

 the bee-keeper is liable to find himself in difficulties with the brood- 

 chamber open, the bees buzzing and milling around, and some es- 

 sential equipment left behind in the house. When this happens 



47 



