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 bim 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 bees 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 
