196 HANDLING BEES. 
disarms the hostility of the bees. They appear, for a few 
moments, almost as much confounded as a man would be, 
if without any warning, the roof and ceiling of his house 
should suddenly be torn from over his head. Before they 
recover from their amazement, they are saluted with a puff 
of smoke, which, by alarming them for the safety of their 
treasures, induces them to snatch whatever they can, In 
the working season the bees near the ¢op are gorged with 
honey; and those coming from éeéow are met in their 
threatening ascent, by a small amount of harmless smoke, 
which excites their fears, but leaves no unpleasant smell 
behind. Wo genuine lover of bees ought ever to use the 
sickening fumes of tobacco, 
396. Heddon says (“Success in Bee-Culture,” page 
18): “I know of but one instance where the use of smoke 
can do harm, and that is in smoking the guards of a colony 
that is in danger of being robed.”(664.) To this impor- 
tant statement, we would add, that too much smoke to a 
colony already subdued, will drive them from their combs, 
and often cause them to get in the way of the Apiarist. 
But the greatest care should be taken to repress by 
smoke, the 7rst manifestations of anger; for, as bees com- 
municate their sensations to each other with almost magic 
celerity, while a whole colony will quickly catch the 
pleased or subdued notes uttered by a few, it will often be 
roused to fury by the angry note of a single bee. When 
once they are thoroughly excited, it will be found very 
difficult to subdue them, and the unfortunate operator, if 
inexperienced, will often abandon the attempt in despair. 
It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the beginner, 
that nothing irritates bees more than breathing upon them, 
or jarring their combs. Every motion should be deliberate, 
and no attempt whatever made to strike at them. If in- 
clined to be cross, they will often resent even a quick 
