194 ARTIFICIAL SWAKMINS. 



ascertained by any one who will put my frames into a sus- 

 pended hive, with a movable bottom made to drop at pleas- 

 ure. If now, for any purpose, he attempts to meddle witb 

 the combs from below, he will find that unless he uses 

 smoke, the bees will be almost, if not quite, unmanageable. 



I shall now furnish some directions which will greatly 

 assist the Apiarian in his operations. He must bear in mind 

 that nothing irritates bees more than a sudden jar, or breath- 

 ing upon them, and these must in all cases be most carefully 

 avoided. Every motion should be ^gentle and deliberate, 

 and no attempt whatever should be made to strike at them. 

 If inclined to be cross, they will resent even a quick point- 

 ing at them with the finger, darting upon it, and leaving 

 their slings behind. A novice or a person liable to be stung, 

 will of course protect his face and hands, in the manner 

 hereafter to be described. 



To open one of my hives, first blow a very little smoke 

 into one of the holes of the board which covers the frames, 

 and on which the receptacles for surplus honey stand. This 

 board should now be loosened with a thin knife, or what is 

 better, an apothecary's spatula, which will be useful for 

 many purposes in the Apiary. When the honey-board is 

 removed, its lower surface will be usually covered with 

 bees, and it should be carefully set on end, so as not to 

 crush them. There is not the least danger of their offering 

 to sting, as they are completely bewildered by the sudden 

 introduction of light, and their removal from the hive. As 

 soon as the cover is disposed of, the Apiarian should sprinkle 

 the bees with the sweet solution. This should descend from 

 the watering-pot in a fine stream, so as not to drench the 

 bees, and should fall upon the tops of the frames, as well as 

 between the ranges of comb. The bees will at once accept 

 the profiered treat, and begin lapping it up, as peaceably as 



