Evening star., 1935-07-07

a sacrifice which costs the insect its
life But the sting left in the skin
has just started on its way, for it and
the poison sacks attached are equip
ped with muscles which tend to drive
it deeper and deeper
The sting is composed of two Ian
Gets, each provided with a series Of
sharp barbs pointing backward SIM
liar to a harpoon. The reflex action
Of the muscles attached to the sting
mechanism is such that first one Ian
Get is driven into the flesh, where it
anchors, then the other, and 80 on,
each lancet going a little deeper and
becoming more firmly lodged. During
this time the muscles are also squeez-
ing the poison sacks In such a man
rer that poison is constantly being
pumped into the wound.
Most persons make the mistake of
trying to pull out the sting. When
this is done the pressure of the f1n-
gers empties the poison sack into the
flesh.
The sting should be Immediately
scraped or scratched out, and since no
time is to be lost looking for a knife
or even In opening one, the flngernail
is the best thing to use in the emer-
gency."
Human householders who set their
thermostats and enjoy the comfort Of
properly regulated heat without worry
about the furnace have nothing on the
bees. These insects have truly mar
velous way of keeping themselves
warm in Winter, Mr.. Hambleton says
Tests made in the Federal laboratory
have revealed the fact that the bees
regulate the temperature of the hive
almost automatically. Truly here is
Natures most efficient heat-control
system.
In Winter the bee colony gathers
itself into a crowd mass within which
the small degree of excess heat of each
individual bee is stored up and makes
a considerable supply of heat in the
mass. The highest temperature is
found in the center Of the group and
near the outside 1t decreases rapidly.
almost to the vanishing point.
When the bees at the outside are
cooled they simply enter the cluster
inside, fiuttering their wings to create
additional heat. This heat travels
toward the bees on the outside of the
mass, raising their temperature to that
which is vitality necessary.
The cluster may be compared to .
ball. the heat being generated at the
center, from which it gradually
radiates outward in all directions. II
the temperature rises the cluster
straightway loosens itself, so that the
inside temperature will not rise too
high. When there is sudden rise of
the external heat and it becomes too
uncomfortable for the bees, they
simply reverse the usual action and
cool their home by tanning.
OF course, at the beginning OF the
breeding season the temperature in
the hives is raised considerably, to aid
in the proper development of the
larvae. ....-...
Is beekeeping profitable? Well.
raising queen bees for many years
brought a Callallen, Tex, man an an
nual revenue of more than $50, 900,
most of which he claims Is clear profit.
Breeding queen bees is done partly by
artificial means. He figures on obtain
ing about 100 queens from every hive
of 1000 to 5000 working bees. instead
of only one queen. Queen bees bring
from x1 tn 60 75 each
GENERALLY speaking: the average
beekeeper will make the most
profit If he limits his business to about
400 colonies, the number he can care
for singlehanded, Uncle Sans experts
advise. He may be first-class bee
handler but the temperament OF q
good beeman usually is not the tenn
permanent for managing employees.
One man. can do practically all OF
the work required for 400 colonies,
even during rush.eeasons, the Federal