STINGING OF BEES. 
15 
and the indiscriminate handling of their keepers. It would 
not do at all to have bees that would not sting. But, surely 
any one with a knowledge of the condition under which bees 
do sting, and some practical skill in their management, will 
be able to perform all necessary operations with but little 
danger. 
It is not right to supposo that bees are always on the alert 
for an ‘opportunity to sting. They sting in defence of the 
home and life of the colony, In stinging the bee loses its 
sting and with it its life. While away from home or col- 
lecting honey from flowers, bees do not voluntarily sting. 
Bees that I have bad in hives on tjie side of the pavement 
during two summers, where footmen passed every few moments, 
never stung. Yet bees keep a special guard over their homes, 
aud anything they understand to be an attack on their hives, 
they will resent with desperation. Breathing on them is 
offensive — any striking nr other quick motions will induce an 
assault; but more especially jarring the hives, even the most 
trifling, will drive them forth in great fury; and the poison- 
ous odor emitted by a single sting makes it doubly sure that 
others will follow in large numbers and with increased fe- 
rocity, until the provoking cause is removed. Bees once 
enraged sometimes remain so for days or weeks. When 
among bees always move quietly ; if attacked, hold the head 
down and place your hands over your face. Bees instinctively 
know where you most hate to bo stung. If stuug, make no 
sudden motion; withdraw the sting as quickly as possible, for 
it continues to work in deeper and inject more poison. If 
the bee keeper is going to open his hive of bees, or handle 
them in any way that would anger them, he should prepare 
himself with a roll of cotion rags of the size of an car of corn, 
rolled so tightly as not to blaze when one end is fired. With 
this roll burning approach the hive and blow smoke into it 
until the bees have gotten up the full hum of retreat and sub- 
mission. You may then proceed to handle them. If they 
rally and show signs of fight, give them more smoke. It will 
seem to them that they are to lose all their stores; and 
to savo some they will gorge themselves with honey, and 
bees filled with anything sweet rarely sting. This is one 
reason why they sting so little when they swarm, as they fill 
themselves before leaving the hive. Feeding hees with water 
well sweetened with sugar, a whilo before operating, will 
