The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-04-02
(By F. G.. HERMAN.)

10y r. u. HERMAN
The extension Of bee culture as
means of adding to the income ha
been rapidly going on since it wa
demonstrated that bees could be maj
aged without discomfort to the opera
tor. and that a profit of SO per CEN
and even more was easily procurablt
Bee culture requires no outlay TO
land upon which to raise crops, TO
as yet there has been no plant dis
covered that pays to plant for hone,
alone.
The honeybee is benefactor to on
race, roaming the fields at will. gath
ering honey and pollen, which she
pays for in the fertilization of thu
flowers
She takes nothing from the fertili
ty of the soil, but gives to it one Of
the greatest fertilizers known, the
clovers, which would become extinct
if It were not for her agency in fer
tilizing the bloom. No land is re-
: quired except a spot on which to
place the hives.
1t is easy to handle bees when you
know how. Undoubtedly a beekeeper
often gets stung; it would be useless
to deny it, and it is scarcely consol-
ing to a novice to tell him he will get
used to being stung; but after a time
a beekeeper really does become inoc-
ulated, after which, although the mo-
myntary pain may be sharp, there are
no disagreeable after effects, such as
swelling, etc.
The fear Of stings, I think, prevents
many from liking the work, and yet,
when properly protected with bee
veil and working only in the warm
part of the day, and never when cloudy
or rainy or cold, and with the use OF
a good smoker, one need rarely be
stung.
In many cases the sting of a bee
is attended with much pain and swell
ing, while in others there are 10 i'll
effects produced whatever, and there
is no doubt but that the system may
become Injured to the poison so that no
bad effects are produced.
The writer recollects the time when
a bee sting was very painful to him
and was always attended with suffer
ing and swelling. l know there is
certain current impression to the eff
feet that bees will sting some people
more than others.
While this is true, it is not be-
cause they are able to recognize any
peculiar physical condition or differ
snce, nor is it because one person
smells to the bees different from an
other. 1t is because they notice a diff
ference in the behavior of different |
persons.
Avoid quick motions, do not breathe |
lpon them, and if there are other bees
lying about in search of plumber do
lot leave the hive open too long.
In case of accidents the smoker
should be used freely, and it ought to
re at hand for any manipulation in
he apiary. 1t is much easier to pre-
'ent the anger of bees than to stop it
fter it has begun. II you misman-
ge a colony of bees and arouse their
niger, 1t is quite likely that this dispo-
ition will remain with them for a
ew days.
A bee away from home. or laden
18th honey, never volunteers an at
ack- This is SO well known and so
Established by apiarists that if l were
OF writing mainly for beginners,
ould not think Of mentioning it.
Thus, in order to render bees harm
ss it is only necessary to cause !
lem to fill themselves with honey, ;
Id this is done by frightening them |
It'll smoke. When smoke is driven
to q hive through the entrance, the I
,es at once begin filling themselves I
It'll honey. Ii
For this reason it is much safer to /
indie bees during the warmest part !
the day, or at time when, the
eater part Of the old bees are in |
g field. 4
The bees which compose swarm +
Q usually filed with honey for the n
lrney which they expect to take, and Il
~ are harmless unless crushed, or /,
~ much irritated by the anger Of i,
hers, and the smell Of the poison.
It Is not absolutely necessary to
loke the colony Of bees until all the
- MI themselves with honey in or a
: to handle them safely, but IT il a
Ftain1y the safest method a
An expert may open q hive without Il
ok4 and without danger. and NAV