BEE MANUAL. 173 



elastic run through a hem round the top will keep it tight and 

 close round the hat, which is the better for having a broad 

 brim. Some bee-keepers prefer having a piece of wire cloth 

 sewed into the veil (Fig. 85), on account of the wire being less 

 obstruction to the sight and not confining the breath so much 

 as the other material. A bee-veil should always be worn by a 

 beginner ; it gives him a sense of security, and therefore more 

 confidence. My first veil was made about three years ago. I 

 never felt the need of one till I commenced to handle hybrids- 

 pretty extensively. 



BEE-GLOVES. 



These I have never worn, therefore I cannot say whether 

 they are useful or not, but as it seems to me that I require the 

 most perfect freedom with my fingers for handling the frames, 

 I should think gloves of any kind on the hands are an encum- 

 brance. Indiarubber gloves are usually sold for this purpose, 

 but a pair of thin woollen gloves covered with cotton ones, and 

 the whole dipped in a strong solution of soda and water, have 

 been highly recommended. I should think that if gloves be 

 worn at all the extreme joints at least of the fingers and thumbs 

 ought to be left free. 



QUIETING BEES. 



During the season, when honey is being gathered rapidly, 

 bees as a rule can be handled without showing any signs of 

 displeasure, but at other times it may be necessary to proceed 

 with caution, and have at hand some means of quieting them 

 should they resent our interference. Smoke is one of the best 

 bee quieters we have ; a few puffs will generally cause them 

 to gorge themselves with honey, in which condition of super- 

 abundant fulness they may be handled with impunity. 



SMOKERS. 



One old-fashioned method of applying smoke to beos was to 

 make a tight roll of cotton rags, which, being lighted at one 

 end, was held in the hand while the smoke was blown by the 

 mouth into the hive, but now we have a more pleasant and 

 convenient method. A tube or fire-box of tin is attached to 

 a small bellows worked with a spring (Figs. 87 and 88) ; a few 

 live embers are first placed in the tube, then the material for 



