bek-kekper’s axioms. 
369 
must not, except under the pressure of some urgent 
necessity, be disturbed in the very least. 
I recommend to the inexperienced bee-keeper to read 
tins synopsis of monthly management, again and again, 
and to be sure that he fully understands and punctually 
discharges the appropriate duties of each month, neglect- 
ing nothing, and procrastinating nothing to a more con- 
venient season ; for, while bees do not require a large 
amount of attention, in proportion to the profits yielded 
by them, they must have it at the proper time and in the 
right way. Those who complain of their unprofitable- 
ness, are often as much to blame as a farmer who neglects 
to take care of his stock, or to gather his crops, and then 
denounces his employment as yielding only a scanty 
return on a large investment of capital and labor. 
- bee-keeper’s axioms. 
There are a few first principles in bee-keeping which 
ought to be as familiar to the Apiarian as the letters of 
his alphabet : 
1st. Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an attack. 
2nd. Bees may always be made peaceable by inducing 
them to accept of liquid sweets. 
3rd. Bees, when frightened by smoke or by drumming 
on their 'hives, fill themselves with honey and lose all dis- 
position to sting, unless they are hurt. 
4th. Bees dislike any quick movements about their 
hives, especially any motion which jars their combs. 
5th. Bees dislike the offensive odor of sweaty animals, 
and will not endure impure air from human lungs. 
Oth. The bee-keeper will ordinarily derive all his profits 
from stocks, strong and healthy, in early Spring. 
7th. In districts where forage is abundant only for a 
1G* 
