FIFTY YEAES AMONG THE BEES 22l 



a crack without their immediately forcing their way in. My 

 wife was provided with a smoker in full blast, and a big bunch 

 of goldenrod or other weeds. A robber-cloth covered the pile. 

 With one hand I lifted the cloth and with the other took out a 

 frame of sections, then quickly dropped the robber-cloth in its 

 place, my wife keeping a cloud of smoke in the way of any rob- 

 bers which should attempt to enter the pile while the cloth 

 was raised. Instantly the frame was out of the super, the rob- 

 bers made for the frame of sections. I made for the wagon 

 and my wife made for me. Kunnirig in a zig'zag, circuitous 

 course, my wife followed me, puff ng and switching at every 

 step, and by the time we got to the wagon the robbers were 

 lost, the frame was slipped quicldy into the super on the 

 wagon, and the robber-cloth dropped over it. The Scotch folks 

 at the house had a good laugh at the crazy couple chasing one 

 another through the orchard, but we beat the bees. Under 

 ordinary circumstances it would be better to take an easier 

 plan or wait till dark. 



PROTECTION FEOM STINGS. 



I have been a beekeeper since 1861, and since 1878 I have 

 made the production of honey my sole business, aside from 

 writing about bees, and yet I have not reached that point 

 where I care nothing for protection from stings. When I first 

 comifieneed keeping bees, a sting on my hand was a serious af- 

 fair, swelling to the shoulder, and troubling f'O/'" as luueh tho 

 second day as the first. Now, if I receive a iiaif-dozen stings 

 or more, I cannot tell an hour or two later where I was stung, 

 except as a matter of memory. Yet I think that a sting gives 

 me fully as much pain for the first minute now, as it did 

 fifty years ago. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it liter- 

 ally makes me groan, especially if no one is within hearing. I 

 sometimes wonder at those who scout any sort of protection, 

 and query whether there may not be just a little of a spirit of 

 bravado about it. I think I could go through a year without 

 any sort of protection, but I do not think I ever shall. A bee 

 inside my clothing makes me very nervous, and I cannot go on 

 in comfort at my work with a feeling of uncertainty as to 

 where and when its little javelin shall pierce my flesh. If I 



