The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-06-04
How to Handle Bees.

which we extract as fOlloWS:
Some people get into fury of excite
ment whenever they see bee or hear its
hum, though it be only intent on gath
ering little honey from the nearest
flower. They shout and wallop about
them with hands or handkerchiefs, as if
they were being attacked by an enemy.
Such are just the people who generally
get stung. Let the bee alone, even though
it be buzzing close to your face. In all
likelihood it is only animated by curios-
itv. Make fuss about it, strike it, or
get it entangled in your clothes or hair,
and blame Yourself if you feel its jave
lin. When engaged in collecting honey
or pollen from the flowers, no amount of
teasing will cause it to sting unless you
hurt or entangle it. Even when a swarm
fills the air you may safely walk about
in the midst of it, only let your motions
be slow and deliberate. Should they
alight on your hands or face, never mind,
they will soon fly again; they are only
resting. In such a case 60 slowly aside,
and give yourself a gentle shall Ike or two,
but refrain from brushing or beating at
the bees. Avoid, however, standing in
the line of the flight of bees going from
or returning to their hives. At such
times thev have such an impetus that
before they are aware OF your presence
they get entangled in your hair, and are
apt to resent your obtrusiyeness. SO
much for ones passive behavior. Let
us now suppose ourselves engaged III
necessary action. First let us learn
these principles:
|. Bees never attack when their stom-
achs are filed with honey or other liquid
sweet. This is their normal condition
when swamning, and therefore they are
then harmless, as also when returning
laden to their hives.
>. Neither do they attack when thor
oughlv frightened. We frighten bees by
blowing smoke among them, or by rap
ping rather violently on their hives.
3. When bees are alarmed Ill hive
bv smoke or conclusion, their first I'M
pise is to fill their honey bags from their
combs.
/. Bees in hive that is constantly
being raped against Will III a lew NM
utes rush boldly out from among their
combs into an empty skep or DON set
over them
Suppose now we wish to get all the
bees ont OF a common straw hive. We
provide the needful empty skep and four
wood or iron pins, six or seven inches
long. roll of burning rags, unless we
possess a modern bellows, smoker, or to-
bacco pipe, and stool or empty pail, on
which to steady the hive while opera
ting. We now approach the hive, blow
three or four whitfs OF smoke into the
egt ga 4fe IS 69 dgiFo i il 9E 66fr
reDeat the smoking. Without the least
lar, now lift the hive boldly up, and
gently turn the mouth upward. If the
bees show any signs Of being ill-natured,
give them puff occasionally. Set the
crown of the hive on the stool or pail
and see that it is steady, and having the
side where the bees are thickest raised
an inch or two, now fix the empty skep
over the other by sticking two OF the
pins into the lower hive, about an inch
or two below the highest part of its edge
so a to support the edge OF the empty
skep. The other pins, sharpened at boil
ends, are placed as supports between the
skeps. They will thus touch each othe
at one side, the other being open so a
! to give full view.
Now commence rapping, gently at nrst
| but gradually with more force, agalns
4 the sides of the lower hive. In icy
seconds the bees will commence to run a
4 if for life to the upper hive. Among thel
/ may be seen the queen II sharp 100
out be kept. The great art here Is
steady stream. Once they take a stan
it is not so easy to dislodge them. tlN
to ten minutes should suffice to inns
the operation if the room be warm. III
driven bees may now be shaken abo
or tumbled from one hive to anoth
without the slightest risk OF Stlngs.
If the weather be cold, or the opef
ton be performed at a season WIZ
there is no unsealed honey in the lilN
little warm syrup should be sprlnkl
1 on the bees before commencing to driN
In our modern hives we use less G.
emony in dislodging the bees. After
Whit OF smoke, we simply lift the iran
Of comb one at the time, give then
shake in front Of the hive or skep
want to get the bees into, and IN N
ute whisk off the few that remain W
feather.
In getting bees into hive we cit
pour them down in front OF it, direct
III their course to its entrance with Tea
III er, or shake them at once on the tol
III the frames, and cover instantly wit
II cloth.
ii To secure q swarm that has ISIS
IN and clustered ON a tree or bush, we
II wise, if possible, to cut the branch
after ali are settled. Ii this be d
gently, the bees can then be carried
the stand they are to occupy, laid &c
iii at the door of their new hive, and di
iii ted with feather as befote; otherv
we hold an inverted skep below the C
IL Ter, give the branch one sharp rap, &C
III the skep, into which the bees fall, v
III acLoth, and carry it to its future abe
II 20 make simple examination {
II colony in bar frame hive, the quill
II removed, puff or two OF smoke civ
II and the frames are lifted one at I'll
II with as little jar as possible. Both 81
XII can be examined, the queen seen
I'LL cantllred il desired, and the entire