THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
12;j 
same thorough continued application that is 
required to make any branch of business 
profitable. If one desires to understand how 
to commence rightly, and to become familiar 
with what is required to conduct beekeeping 
satisfactorily, secure some practical work on 
the subject which does not represent either 
class of extremists just mentioned ; begin 
moderately, and grow into the business as 
experience increases. 
HINTS ABOUT HANDLING BEES— 
STINGS, Etc. 
War. Muth-Rasmussen. 
From the American Bee Journal. 
The bee is, as everybody knows, provided with 
a formidable weapon, formidable in proportion 
to its size and effect ; but this weapon (the 
sting) is very seldom used, except as a means 
of defence. The honey-bee is naturally a 
peace-loving insect, and has no desire to 
molest anybody as long as it is left to pursue 
its industrious calling without interference. 
_ While flitting from flower to flower, or 
sipping the water at the bank of a babbling 
brook, the bee has no more thought of war- 
fare than the man who peacefully works to 
provide for his loved ones at home. But let 
an evil-disposed person try to injure this 
home or its occupants, or rob it of its hard- 
earned stores, and the man is immediately on 
the defence with the best means at his 
disposal. 
Can you blame the bee, the most industrious 
suid intelligent insect, for what you commend 
in man '( Its sagacity and courage are to be 
admired rather than deplored. Without 
these qualities the bee and its precious stores 
would be a prey for numerous enemies, all too 
fond of insect-food and honey, and but little 
of the latter would fall to the share of him to 
whom the Creator gave “dominion over every 
living thing that moveth upon the earth.” 
It then devolves upon man to learn the 
nature and traits of the bees, and to so use 
this knowledge that he may reap the fruits of 
their industry without pain or danger to him- 
self, and without unnecessary annoyance or 
harm to these humble servants. 
The time of cruelly submitting a colony of 
bees to a horrible death over the brimstone- 
pit, for the purpose of obtaining a scant 
supply of honey, is past. As well might we ! 
kill the sheep to obtain its wool, or the goose 
for her feathers. By proper precautions 
there is no more danger in obtaining the 
honey than the wool and feathers. Certain 
rules must be observed, to be sure ; but by 
means of these rules the beekeeper is as safe 
at his work as a workman in any other 
occupation. 
AVERSION OF BEES. 
Bees dislike all black, dark or iron-gray 
colors; fur, hair and wool are an abomination 
to them. The beekeeper should, therefore. 
avoid clothing of such material and colors, 
when in the apiary. He should also keep his 
hair and beard covered ; and as the eyes and 
nostrils present dark spots in the face, more 
liable to attack than the smooth skin, it is 
generally safest to keep the whole head 
protected by some kind of a bee-veil. This 
may be simply a sack of dark-blue mosquito- 
bar or tarlatan, or it may be a flour-sack with 
a piece of wire-cloth inserted in front of the 
face. 
The best bee-hat is made by sewing a 
cylinder of wire-cloth to the rim of a stra” or 
calico hat, and adding a broad strip of cl th 
to the bottom of the cylinder. The cloth falls 
over the shoulders, or may be tucked under 
the coat-collar. The hands should never be 
protected. Any kind of glove which may be 
worn will be more objectionable to the bees 
than the bare hands. If the bees are par- 
ticularly irascible, singe the hair off the back 
of the hands and dip them frequently in cold 
water. 
Quick motions and sudden jars to the hive 
should be avoided. Hives should, therefore, 
never be opened in cold weather, when the 
propolis, with which the cover and frames are 
fastened, is hard, and when everything comes 
apart with a snap. The breath of some per- 
sons is objectionable to the bees ; but in 
hunting for a queen on the comb, I frequently 
blow hard on the bees to make them disperse 
and move around, and I find that such a blow 
of cool air is less objectionable and less 
irritating to them than smoke. 
FRIGHT OF BEES. 
Bees have a natural fear of smoke. Taking 
advantage of this trait, smoke is the principal 
weapon in the hands of man with which to 
control, subdue or direct the bees. By judi- 
cious use of smoke the bees may be made to 
move in any direction desired, as they will 
always retreat from it. 
A roll of cotton rags of the size and shape 
of bologna sausage makes a very good smoker. 
The rags should be rolled as hard us possible 
to prevent blazing, and tied every two inches. 
The bellows-smoker, now so commonly used by 
beekeepers, is, however, a far superior imple- 
ment, as it will burn anything that will burn 
in a stove, and avoids danger of fire, which is 
often caused by the cotton roll. 
MANIPULATING COMBS. 
In the manipulation of combs great care 
should be used not to pinch or crush any bees, 
as the odor of poison extruded by such is 
exceedingly irritating to the other bees in the 
hive, or to those flying about. If a bee is 
crushed or stings the hand, a few puffs of 
smoke on the spot will generally neutralise 
and conceal the odor of the poison. 
When it is necessary to remove the bees 
from a comb, the best way is to shake them 
off, holding the frame so securely that it will 
not slip out of the fingers. As, however, 
some bees will hold on with the tenacity of a 
