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.
CHAPTER V.
BEE MANIPULATION.
§ I. HIVING SWARMS.
THE spring is the best period at which to commence an apiary, and swarming time is a good starting-point for the new bee-keeper. The period known as the swarming season is during the months of May and June. With a very forward stock, and in exceedingly fine weather, bees do occasionally swarm in April. The earlier the swarm the greater is its value. If bees swarm in July they seldom gather sufficient to sustain themselves through the winter, though by careful feeding they may easily be kept alive if hived early in the month.
The cause of a swarm leaving the stock hive is that the population has grown too large for it. Swarming is a provision, of Nature for remedying the inconvenience of overcrowding, and is the method whereby the bees seek for space in which to increase their stores. By putting on "super hives" the required relief may, in many cases, be given to them; but should the multiplication of stocks be desired, the bee-keeper will defer increasing the space until the swarm has issued forth.
In many country districts it is a time-honoured custom for the good folks of the village to commence on such occasions a terrible noise of tanging and ringing with frying-pan and key. This is done with the absurd notion that the bees are charmed with the clangorous din, and may by it be induced to settle as near as possible to the source of such sweet sounds. This is, however, quite a mistake: there are other and better means for the purpose. The practice of ringing was originally adopted for a different and far more sensible object—viz., for the purpose of giving notice that a swarm had issued forth, and that the owner was anxious to claim the right of following, even though it should alight on a neighbour's premises. It would be curious to trace how this ancient ceremony has thus got corrupted from the original design.