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 top are gorged with 

 honey ; and those coming from helow are met in their 

 threatening ascent, by a small amount of harmless smoke, 

 which excites their fears, but leaves no unpleasant smell 

 behind. No genuine lover of bees ought ever to use the sick- 

 ening 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 robbed." (664.) To this important state- 

 ment, we would add, that too much smoke to a colony 

 already subdued, wiU 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 first 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 inexperi- 

 enced, 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 



