12 
A B C OF BEEKEEPING 
in handling the hives as during cold weath¬ 
er, when it is stiff and hard. Ordinarily 
bees should not be handled at such times. 
One more tool is sometimes used, and 
that is a swarming-box or a swarm-bas¬ 
ket. A wire basket is mounted on the end 
of a long pole so that a majority of the 
bees can be reached and captured from 
the ground. If the wings of the queens 
are clipped, as explained under Queens 
and Swarming, no such appliance is need¬ 
ed except in instances when a second 
swarm comes off with a virgin queen. 
MANIPULATING A COLONY OF BEES. 
Having considered the inmates of a 
hive, the hive itself, and the several parts 
and the tools for manipulating the same, 
it is now in order to take up the manipula¬ 
tion of the hive, or the handling of a colo¬ 
ny of bees. 
The average beginner at this point may 
feel that he has a job on his hands. He 
may get stung, when his face will be dis¬ 
figured so that he will not be presentable 
to company. While it is not denied that he 
may get stung, the one who tries for the 
first time to handle bees should protect his 
hands with gloves and his face with a veil, 
not because they are essential, but because 
it will take away that feeling of fear that 
might cause him to make a false move and 
thus incite the bees to sting. 
If he will follow the directions that are 
now given, he should not receive a single 
sting even in his clothing. First of all, it 
is important that the beginner select a 
warm day, between ten and three o’clock. 
After having lighted his smoker (see 
Smokers), he should put on his veil and 
gloves and approach his hive. He should 
be sure that the smoker delivers a good 
smoke. The best fuel is old rags or greasy 
w 7 aste, which can be had for the asking at 
almost any machine shop. The smoke of 
this is not pungent, but is a bluish White 
and quite opaque. This can be easily ig¬ 
nited with a match. Work the bellows 
until a good volume of smoke is secured. 
Care should be taken not to work the 
smoker bellows too hard, as otherwise the 
.fuel will burst into flame. 
With the smoker just right, blow a light 
puff of smoke into the entrance;. Too 
much smoke will start the bees on a stam¬ 
pede, especially if they are blacks or hy¬ 
brids. While bees will not sting in this 
condition, it renders subsequent manipula¬ 
tion exceedingly difficult. 
The next movement is to take the screw¬ 
driver or hive-tool and pry the cover up 
about a sixteenth of an inch—not wider, 
because the bees would escape. Thru the 
gap so made between the cover and the 
hive itself two puffs of smoke should be 
blown. Next, the cover should be gently 
lifted, the movement being followed with 
perhaps two or three light puffs of smoke. 
It is just as important not to Use too much 
smoke as not enough. 
One may now proceed to lift out individ¬ 
ual frames. If they are stuck together on 
account of the bee glue, a little smoke may 
be required to follow each operation in 
separating the frames; but usually the 
smoker can be set down alongside the hive, 
Smoking thru a narrow gap under inner cover. 
