BEES UNDER PROPER CONTROL. 
I 
while it is cool in wear, and weighs a bare ^oz. 
It admits also a much better view through it than 
leno, on which account it is strongly to be recom- 
mended to those desirous of studying the economy of 
the hive. The face-protector for ladies is preferably 
sewn up above the hat, as at B, Fig. i, any ornaments 
upon which would prevent the elastic just described 
from making a bee-proof joint. A little practice 
will generally cause all protective dressing to be 
discarded but the veil, and even this, when stocks 
are gathering honey freely, is unnecessary. But our 
safety is as fully secured by putting the bee upon its 
good behaviour as by defending ourselves from the 
attack ; and our success here depends upon two plans : 
either terrifying the bee into submission — for which 
purpose smoke is generally used — or gaining its con- 
fidence by gentleness. It would be unpardonable here 
to omit that, since Langstroth wrote his invaluable 
treatise, by almost universal consent the supposed 
sheet anchor has been inducing the bees to gorge, by 
which it has been a thousand times stated they be- 
come imperturbably amiable, and as harmless as flies, 
and even, according to some, unable, as well as un- 
willing, to use their stings. But let Langstroth* speak 
for himself: “One of the peculiarities which consti- 
tute the foundation of my system of management, 
and, indeed, the possibility of domesticating at all so 
irascible an insect, has never, to my knowledge, been 
clearly stated as a great and controlling principle. 
It may be thus expressed : A honey bee, when filled 
,* Langstroth’s “ Hive and Honey Bee,” page 25. 
