ABC OF BEEKEEPING 
11 
ped over, and in all respects is equal and 
even superior to that made by the bees 
without the use of starters. See Comb 
Foundation. 
TOOL'S FOR HANDLING BEES. 
The tools required by a beekeeper for 
opening his hives and doing- other necessary 
work in the production of honey are not. 
elaborate. The total outlay need not ex¬ 
ceed $5.00. First and foremost, there must 
be a bee-smoker—a device consisting of a 
stove and bellows for blowing smoke from 
some slow-burning fuel on the bees. With¬ 
out smoke, many manipulations would be 
very difficult; and the novice, at least, 
would be inclined to give up the business 
after his first experience in trying to han¬ 
dle a colony of bees, especially if weather 
conditions were unfavorable. But with 
smoke, and an instrument for applying it, 
one can, if he knows how, perform all pos¬ 
sible manipulations with bees when weather 
conditions are right. In fact, a large num¬ 
ber of beekeepers, except during a time 
when the weather is bad, do not use a veil, 
gloves, nor any special protection except 
the smoker, as an intelligent use of the 
latter will often put the bees on their good 
behavior, to such an extent that the use of 
other protectors is rendered useless. Per¬ 
haps a majority of honey-producers work 
with a veil on the hat, but not drawn down 
except when an angry bee seems disposed 
to show fight. 
The other tool, if it may be so regarded, 
is designed for face protection. This may 
he in the form of a wire-cloth cylinder with 
suitable cape to protect the neck and shoul¬ 
ders, or it may be made of some sort of 
netting, preferably black, so as to obscure 
the vision as little as possible. The higher- 
priced veils of silk Brussels netting offer 
practically no obstruction to the eyes, and 
at the same time give the wearer a sense of 
security that he cannot otherwise have. 
Some beekeepers wishing to get thru 
with as large an amount of work as possi¬ 
ble, and knowing that rapid manipulation 
Bee-veil. 
has a tendency, in spite of smoke, to make 
bees sting, wear both bee-veil and gloves; 
and a few of the careless bunglers go so far 
as to wear cowhide boots in addition, tuck¬ 
ing the trousers into the boots. Good bee¬ 
keepers do not approve of such bungling, 
slam-bang methods, that only irritate the 
bees. One will accomplish as much or more 
in a day, provided he works cautiously and 
deliberately, using headwork to save mak¬ 
ing a multiplicity of quick moves. A few 
slow movements carefully planned will ac¬ 
complish much with bees. 
Almost the only other tool required is a 
strong screwdriver, a knife with a good stiff 
blade, or, better still, a specially construct¬ 
ed hive-tool made of spring steel with a 
Hive-tool. 
broad, blade for the purpose of a pry or 
scraper. A tool of some sort is indispensa¬ 
ble for separating the frames and the parts 
of a hive, because the bees make use of 
what is known as bee glue, cementing the 
frames together. In warm or hot weather 
this bee glue does not cause as much trouble 
