§ XXII. BEE DRESS OR PROTECTOR.
All operations connected with the removal or the hiving of bees should be conducted with calmness and circumspection. Bees, although the busiest of creatures, entertain a great dislike to fussiness in their masters, and become irritable at once if the apiarian allows them to see that he is in a hurry. Hence there is great advantage in having the face and hands covered whilst at work amongst the bees; for when the operator knows he cannot possibly be stung, he can open his hives, take out the combs, gather in his swarms, or take the honey, with all the deliberation of a philosopher. Various kinds of bee dresses have been contrived; one that we keep ready in stock is of a very simple construction. It is made of strong black net, which is manufactured for us specially for this purpose, and in shape is like an inverted bag, large enough to allow of a gentleman's wideawake or a lady's hat being worn underneath. The projection of the hat or cap causes the dress to stand off from the face, and the meshes of the net, though much too small for a bee to penetrate, are wide enough to allow of clear vision for the operator. An elastic band secures the dress round the waist; the sleeves also, made of durable black calico, are secured at the wrists by a similar method. The hands of the bee-master may be effectually protected with a pair of india-rubber gloves, which should be put on before the dress is fastened round the wrists. This kind of glove is regularly used by photographers, and allows of greater ease in manipulation than any other description. Some persons also tie strings round the ankles of their trousers, or use elastic bands for the same purpose. Those who wear Wellington boots will be able to tuck the trousers within them.
The annexed figure represents a cheaper form of bee veil which we have more recently introduced. It is provided with an elastic band which fits round the hat, the lower portion being folded under the coat. There is however no protection to the arms. It is made of the same specially constructed material as the preceding—a strong black net, with large meshes.
Thus a very simple and inexpensive means of protection will enable even a novice in bee-keeping to make his observations and conduct his experiments under a sense of perfect security. There are, of course, those who scorn all such artificial modes of protection, and having inured themselves to stinging take it as a thing of course, only to be restrained within some manner of limit by means of the persistent smoking of cigars or pipes (non-smokers such as Dzierzon use a sort of mouth-fumigator). But it does not follow that none but these stoics are to be permitted to manipulate with bees, otherwise the number of beginners would be likely to be but few. And even he who is protected need not be careless as to the feelings of his bees; his success and their comfort will be promoted by his "handling them gently, and as if he loved them." "Familiarity" between bees and their master breeds not "contempt," but affection.[24] See further under "Stings" ([Chap. VI. § vi.]).
[24] Von Berlepsch denies that bees come really to know their master so as to be able to distinguish him from any one else. We retain the remark in our text as true to the extent that they do become used to his manipulations.
