BEE-KEEPING IN WAR-TIME 23 



HANDLING BEES 



The idea that bees will sting upon the slightest provocation, 

 or even without this, is a very prevalent one amongst people 

 who know very little about bees and their ways. Needless 

 to say it is quite erroneous. The sting is given to them as a 

 weapon of defence and not for offence. • 



The essentials for handling bees with the minimum amount 

 of stings — it would be foolish to suggest that bee-keepers never 

 do get stung — are quiet but firm manipulation, a knowledge 

 of their habits, and withal gentleness. 



Bees should never be handled in cold or wet weather, nor 

 yet too early in the morning or too late at night. The best 

 time to deal with them is about rnidday when the sun is 

 shining ; there are then fewer bees in the hive, they are lively, 

 and if they settle upon the person they quickly fly off, instead 

 of creeping in amongst the clothes to seek warmth, which they 

 will do in the early morning or very late at night. If they do 

 this, then it is not a very pleasant experience, at either supper 

 or breakfast, to sit down unexpectedly upon a bee, with its 

 underside next the flesh. In cold weather the brood will be 

 killed from exposure, and wet weather will do equally as 

 much harm. At the same time it musfnot be imagined that 

 bees cannot be handled at any other time than that given 

 as the best. They can be handled at all times except those 

 specially mentioned. 



Those who have seen a swarm hived by their owner will 

 have been struck with their dociUty upon that occasion. This 

 is accounted for by the fact given in the chapter dealing 

 with swarms, that the bees are full of food; when in this 

 condition they are good-tempered and disinclined to sting. 

 The difference between the temper-, of bees in a swarm that 

 has just issued and one that has been out for several days 

 and exhausted their food will be painfully apparent to any 

 person hiving them. 



Whenever they are frightened bees always prepare for 

 contingencies by filling their stomachs with sufficient food to 

 last them several days. Knowing this failing, the bee-keeper 

 takes advantage of it to get the bees under control. 



They are very frightened- of smoke and also t>io -- 

 carbolic acid, therefore either of ther- 



