The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-16
Controlling Bees.

A great drawback to Bookkeeping is
the fear of the bees sting by persons not
familiar with this industry. Many farm
ers would keep a few hives, enough to
furnish honey for their w tables, at
least, if they only knew just how to con-
troll the bees.
Bees retaliate injuries and Interrupt
tions by an attack and sting, hence
everybody who is called upon to make
a neal approach should understand the
things that anger these insects. All
quick motions are offensive to them,
such as running, striking and the like.
The practical bee-keeper, as a rule, is
safe, for he moves in and about the hives
with slow, cautious step.
A sudden jar, such as may be made
by carelessly moving the hive, is re-
sented by the bees and usually the in
slant a hive is touched they are on the
alert and ready to bring down then
stings upon head or face. In adjusting
the box and frames bees are liable to be
crushed and otherwise injured. Theil
surviving comrades appear to remember
this and as soon as an opportunity &C.
ours make an attack.
Bees also appear to become irritated
by the breathing of a person into the
hive or among a cluster of them, espe-
cially if the person uses liquor or to-
bacco. Bees do not make an attack
while in search of honey or on their
return until they have entered the hive.
1t is in the hive and its immediate vi
cinity that they manifest this irascible
disposition.
Bees do not always give warning be-
fore making an attack. On the contrary
the majority of attacks are made with
out the least intimation having been
given.
There is no doubt but that a timid
person who shows fear by lodging and
evading every bee that flies near is more
liable to be assaulted than n who is
| quite fearless. As interest dispels fear.
| the enthusiast makes the most success
full bee keeper. When one has not
sufficient confidence to walk boldly il
and out among the hives it is wise tt
use some means of protection to insure
confidence. This projections especially
necessary when handling hybrids.
of cotton cloth, held firmly in place by
hands and wrists. Bee wells, to guar(
Uut 1dCC, dIC 1dO VI ulOoIulto StUiii
tarlatan or lace. A veil recommended
by Quimby and adopted by many bee
growers consists of a piece of netting
a yard and a quarter by three-quarter
of a ward sewed together, with an elastic
in one end, to be adjusted over the hat
Four or five inches from the top inser
a piece of coarse meshed cloth 6x!
inches. At a suitable distance from tn
4 Io@H1~o nffnoh n N farNn To III
about the neck. Stout black bobine
wire cloth.
Smoke is the controlling agent uni
versally employed in the apiary. I
has a Supplying effect upon the bee
which enables the ~bee-keepers to handl
them without fear. The burning o
partially decayed wood, without
blaze, is now employed in place of tc
bacco, for smoking bees. Progressiv
apiarians-for the most part, use n G
the many patent smokers on the mai
ket. These differ insome minor detail
of construction, but are based on tn
same essential principle, nearly a
having adopted the upright bellows an
tube.
To operate the smoker the taperin
part of the tubs IS removed, a piece c
light decayed wood put in and the tai
ering part replaced. The bellows i
worked with one hand, directing tn
smoke to any part desired. By a jud
cious use of smoke at the r~ightmome1
the bees combativeness is subdued an
their anger turned into submission
Their impulse is to fill themselves wit
honey, after which they are more peace
able.
Various remedies are employed fo
stings. External applications of an
monia, soda, OF salt and soda mike
and slightly moistened are perhaps g
efficient as anything. Whether an
remedy is employed or not, it is nece:
, sary that the sting be removed as 500
as possible. 1t may often be scrape
off with a knife-blade and the pal
squeezed a little to force the poison OIL
Care should be taken in removing til
sting not to force any more of the poiso
contained in the sac attached to til
sting in the wound.-M. Y. World.