MANIPULATING. 49 



down quietly. When a swarm is first placed in a skep, the latter 

 should always be allowed to stand in the shade until the bees 

 have settled, and then at once moved on to its stand, keeping it 

 well shaded from the sun. 



X.— MANIPULATING. 



89. Quieting and Handling Bees. — Confidence, in a 

 great measure, is the bee-keeper's safeguard ; skill, perhaps, 

 ranks as second in importance ; and while the appliances used in 

 quieting the bees only take a third position, yet we cannot do 

 without them. For particulars of these appliances we refer the 

 reader to par. 54. Various conditions have to be borne in 

 mind when handling bees. A hive in the middle of the day, 

 when honey is coming in plentifully, is in its most amiable mood, 

 and requires very little, if any, intimidating ; the same hive on 

 a cool evening will hardly allow even a corner of the quilt to 

 be turned up without resenting it. A hive having no stores, or 

 all stores sealed over, is exceedingly difficult to handle. A 

 queenless colony is usually more vicious than one in a normal 

 condition. During autumn on a hot day, it is unwise to make 

 any very extensive manipulation, and all such should be per- 

 formed towards evening. A full colony is more difficult to handle 

 than a weak one. If a colony is once raised to the pitch of 

 stinging in earnest, cover it up and go to it on a future occasion. 

 Many colonies which are not to be subdued by smoke or carbolic 

 acid will frequently be as tame as flies if well sprinkled with 

 warm syrup before handling. An incautious jarring of the hive 

 will often raise a-colony to the extreme of viciousness. In com- 

 mencing to subjugate, walk as gently as possible to the hive 

 and raise the roof without a sound, place it somewhere near, 

 then gently raise one end of the quilt and peel it back with one 

 hand while you drive the bees down between the combs with 

 fumigator or smoker ; do not puff in the entrance ; as soon 

 as the bees are busily engaged filling themselves with honey — 

 this can easily be seen by their poking their heads in the cells — do 

 what is required quickly and gently, but quietly ; never make 

 any swift or sudden movement, and on no account allow your 

 breath to enter the hive. Do not allow, upon removing a frame, 

 any portion of it to knock against the hive. Never lift out a 

 frame until you have shifted it laterally sufficient to clear the 

 adjoining ones ; nothing irritates the bees more than being 

 rubbed between two combs. Never crush a bee : the smell of 

 the poison in its body irritates the others. If a bee stings 

 you, do not flinch if you can help it, but scrape the sting 

 out with the nozzle of the fumigator — the smell of this 

 counteracts that of the sting : the quick movement of a 

 flinch will cause others to try their stings upon you. Always 



K 



