The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-09-22
Controlling Bees.


A great drawback to Bookkeeping 10
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 own tables, at
least, if they only knew just how to con-
troll the bees.
Bees retaliate injuries and Interrupt
everybody who is called upon to make
a near 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 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-
seltel by the bees and usually the in
slant hive is touched they are on the
alert and ready to bring down their
stings upon head or face. In adjusting
the box and frames bees are liable to be
crushed and otherwise injured Their
surviving comrades appear to remember
this 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
hive or among 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 timid
person who shows fear by lodging and
evading every bee that flies near is more
liable to be assaulted than one who is
quite fearless. As interest dispels fear,
the enthusiast makes the most success
ful bee-keeper When one has not
sufficient confidence to walk boldly in
and out among the hives it is wise to
use some means of protection to insure
confidence. This protectioni is especially
necessary when handling hybrids.
Long rubber gloves and over-sleeves
of cotton cloth, held firmly in place by
an elastic on each end, will protect
hands and wrists. Bee wells, to guard
the face, are made of mosquito netting,
tarlatan or lace. A veil recommended
by Quimby and adopted by many bee
growers consists of piece of netting
yard and quarter by three-quarters
of a yard sewed together, with an elastic
in one end, to be adjusted over the hat.
Four or five inches from the top insert
piece of coarse meshed cloth 6x9
inches. At 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
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 in some minor details
of construction, but are based on the
same essential principle, nearly all
having adopted the upright bellows and
tube.
To operate the smoker the tapering
part of the tube is removed, piece Of
light decaved wood put in and the tap
ering part replaced. The bellows is
worked with one hand, directing the
smoke to any part desired By 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. It 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 tho
sting in the wound.--M y World.