The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-18
Controlling Bees,

the lear OF the bees sting by persons not
familiar with this industry. Many farm
efs would keep few hives, enough to
furnish honey for their own tables, at
least II they only knew just how to con-
troll the bees.
bees retaliate injuries and Interrupt
ions by an attack and sting, hence
everybody who is called upon to make
near approach should understand the
tnings that anger these insects. All
quick motions are offensive to them,
such as running, striking and the like.
Inc practical bee-keeper, as a rule, is
sale, Tor 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-
scented by the bees and usually the in
stanta hive is touched they are on the
alert and ready to bring down their
stings upon head or face. In adjusting
the pox and frames bees are liable to be
crushed and otherwise injured Their
surviving comrades appear to remember
thls and as soon as an opportunity oc-
ours make an attack.
Bees also appear to become irritated
by The breathing of a person into the
niVe Or among a cluster of them, espe-
clally If the person uses liquor or to-
baccO Bees do not make an attack
wilhelm search of honey or on their
return until they have entered the hive.
1t is IN the hive and its immediate vi
c'nity that they manifest this irascible
dispoition.
BeeSdo not always give warming be-
lore maEing an attack. On the contrary
the maJGty of attacks are made with
out the east intimation having been
given.
There isso doubt but that timid
person whoshows fear by lodging and
evading ever. bee that flies near is more
liable to be asailed than one who is
quite fearless AS interest dispels fear,
the enthusiast makes the most success
full bee-keeper When one has not
sufficient confiduce to walk boldly in
and out among he hives it is wise to
use some means # protection to insure
confidence. Thisrotection is especially
necessary when hadling hvbrids.
Long rubber gloves and over-sleeves
of cotton cloth, he'll firmly in place by
an elastic on each end, will protect
hands and wrists. lee wells, to guard
the face, are made ofmosquito netting.
tarlatan or lace. A Feil recommended
by Quimby and adopted by many bee
growers consists of piece of netting
a yard and quarter BY three quarters
OF a yard sewed togethe', with an elastic
in one end, to be adjusted over the hat.
-Four or five inches from the top insert
a piece OF coarse meshed cloth 6x9
inches. AT a suitable distance from the
bottom attach narrow tape to tie
about the neck. Stout black bobinet
lace is sometimes substituted for the
wire cloth.
Smoke is the controlling agent uni
versally employed in the apiary. 1t
has Supplying effect upon the bees
which enables the bee-keepers to handle
them without fear. The burning of
partially decayed wood, without a
blaze, is now employed in place of to-
bacco, for smoking bees. Progressive
apiarians-for the most part, use one of
the many patent smokers on the mar
ket. These differ insome minor details
of construction, but are based on the
same essential principle, nearly all
haVinS "Si@Pted the upright peuuSs anu
tube.
To operate the smoker the tapering
part of the tube is removed, a piece of
light decayed wood put in and the tap
ering part replaced. The bellows is
worked with one hand, directing the
smoke to any part desired. By a judi
cious use of smoke at the right moment
the bees combativeness is subdued and
their anger turned into submission.
Their impulse is to fill themselves with
honey, after which they are more peace
able.
Various remedies are employed for
stings. External applications of am
monia, soda, or salt and soda mixed
and slightly moistened are perhaps as
efficient as anything. Whether any
remedy is employed or not, it is neces.
sary that the sting be removed as soon
as possible. 1t may often be scraped
off with a knife-blade and the part
squeezed little to force the poison out
Care should be taken in removing the
sting not to force any more of the poison
contained in the sac attached to the
sting in the wound.-N. Y. World.