MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 195 



CHAPTER XIII. 



HANDLING BEES. 



But some one asks the question, shall we not receive those 

 merciless stings, or be introduced to what "Josh" calls the 

 ." business end of the bee ?" Perhaps there is no more cause- 

 less, or more common dread, in existence, than this of bees' 

 stings. When bees are gathering, they will never sting unless 

 provoked. When at the hives — especially if Italians — they 

 will rarely make an attack. The common belief, too, that 

 some persons are more liable to attack than others, is, I think, 

 put too strong. With the best opportunity to judge, with 

 our hundreds of students, I think I may safely say that one 

 is almost always as liable to attack as another, except that 

 he is more quiet, or does not greet the usually amiable 

 passer-by, with those terrific thrusts, which would vanquish 

 even a practiced pugilist. Occasionally a person may have 

 a peculiar odor about his person that angers bees and invites 

 their darting tilts, with drawn swords, venom-tipped, yet, 

 though I take my large classes each season, at frequent inter- 

 Tals, to see and handle the bees, each for himself, I still await 

 the first proof of the fact, that one person is more liable to 

 fee stung than another, providing each carries himself with 

 that composed and dignified bearing, that is so pleasing to the 

 bees. True, some people, filled with dread, and the belief that 

 bees regard them with special hate and malice, are so ready 

 for the battle, that they commence the strife with nervous 

 head-shakes and beating of the air, and thus force the bees 

 to battle, nolens volens. ' I believe that only such are regarded 

 with special aversion by the bees. Hence, I believe that no 

 ■one need be stung. 



Bees should never be jarred, nor irritated by quick motions. 

 Those with nervous temperaments — and I plead very guilty 

 on this point — need not give up, but at first better protect 



