88 BEE DRESS. 
Some apiarians can handle bees in all ordinary operations without 
fear of their stings. Still there are occasions that even to such, a bee- 
dress would be very acceptable. Some persons in hiving swarms 
throw a veil over their head and face, but this affords only an imper- 
fect security, though it may answer for all ordinary occasions; still, I 
think that, as the expense is so trifling, every bee-keeper should pro- 
vide himself with one. It can be made in the following manner, and 
the cost will not exceed two shillings :—Take one and a half yard of 
thin, light, three-quarter muslin, and a piece of wire-cloth, (such as is 
used for meal sieves,) about six inches square; it may be obtained of 
wire-weayers in most of our large towns and cities, or of hardware deal- 
ers. Lay the muslin over the head, with the ends down over the shoul- 
ders, with one end of the selvedge in front, and the other back. The back 
part may be cut and fitted to the head, and a cord run in to gather it 
around the neck, and the wire-cloth sewed in over the face, first 
rounding the corners in shape of the face. It should extend down be- 
low the mouth, to afford free respiration, and the muslin sewed to- 
gether below the wire-cloth, sufficient to extend below the vest. It 
may be worn under a coat, but it is not the best way, as it is usually 
warm weather when it is worn, and with the head-dress, and a coat 
over it, a person will be very uncomfortable on account of the heat; 
besides, the bees will crawl up under one’s coat and vest, and when 
in close quarters will often prick through the shirt, and tickle a person 
under the ribs. To prevent this and the other difficulty, I have pre- 
pared myself with a garment made of the same kind of material as 
the head-dress, and in the form of a hunting shirt, open before, with 
buttons close together, to button up tight. I first pug on my head 
dress, and then over this my hunting shirt, buttoned under my pants; 
and with a pair of thick woollen gloves with stocking legs, sewed to 
the wrists, to draw up over my sleeves, and my pants tied over my 
boots, I can defy all the forces they choose to bring against me. 
