CHAPTER VII.
ANGER OF BEES.
THE anger of bees, when once thoroughly aroused, is much to be dreaded, as the results which follow are often of a very serious nature. In my own case, I can handle bees with perfect impunity. They rarely make any attempt to sting, no matter what liberties I take with them. I always intend to be very careful, and handle them gently, making them understand that I do not mean to harm them. In my first efforts in handling bees they were very apt to sting me, for the reason that I did not understand their nature; consequently they mistook my intentions, and often forced me to seek shelter from their attacks. Now I seldom use any protection when working among them. Often, in transferring the bees and comb from the old box hive to the Controllable Hive, I roll up my sleeves, and with no protection whatever, for the hands or face, cut out the comb from the old hive, with the bees adhering to it, and arrange and fasten it in the new hive, without the bees making any attempt to sting me.
I would not recommend any one to do this, until they are so well acquainted with, and accustomed to handling, the bees, as to understand perfectly their every characteristic, and be quite certain that they will not make an attack. It is better to protect the hands and face from their attacks, as you will thus feel greater confidence in yourself, and can perform all operations without fear of stings. It is well to understand what will arouse the anger of bees, and cause them to sting. If we breathe upon them, when they are in or about the hive or boxes, they deem it an insult, and will dash at and sting us at once. Any sudden jar of the hive is instantly resented. All quick, spiteful motions about the hive, such as running, jumping, etc., is noticed, and quite sure to be followed by a sting. The finger pointed at them with a quick, spiteful motion when they are standing as sentinels about the entrance of the hive, often provokes stings. If they come buzzing around, threatening to sting, perhaps striking your hat almost like a bullet, and should you return the compliment by striking at them with your hand, they will be quite sure to sting you. The better way is, if unprotected, to hold down your head so as to protect your face, and move away from the hive as quietly as possible. When the bees find you are retreating, they will not follow you far. Always remember that if one bee stings you, others are very sure to immediately follow, unless you retreat. I believe that bees have a language by which they make known to each other their wants and wishes; and I feel certain they know those who have the care of them, and become accustomed to the motions and appearance of those who are seen by them daily.
The members of my family are seldom stung by the bees, notwithstanding I sometimes have fifty hives or more where we pass within twenty feet of them many times a day, while the bees are flying in thousands about each hive. In the middle of the day, in the honey season, the air for many rods about the hives is full of bees. I find my bees are much more likely to attack strangers who come to see them, than members of the family.
To Subdue the Anger of Bees.
I have tested every means recommended for subduing the anger of bees, and have found tobacco smoke the thing, when rightly applied.
Have a tin-worker make you a tin tube, one inch in diameter, six inches long, and fit stoppers of soft wood closely in each end, two and three inches long respectively, with a hole through each, one-fourth inch in diameter. Fit one end of the longer stopper to hold in the mouth. Before placing the shorter piece in the tube, cover the inside end with wire cloth, bent a little convex, to prevent the ashes and tobacco filling the quarter-inch orifice. Taper the outer end of the short piece nearly to a point. Remove the mouth-piece, and fill the tube nearly full of tobacco (cigars are best, for they burn freely.) Dip with live embers, replace the mouth-piece and blow the smoke from the pointed end.
With this instrument smoke may be forced among the bees in any part of the hive or boxes. In all operations likely to arouse the anger of the bees, as taking off and putting on boxes, lifting out comb frames, putting on and taking off feeder, removing the honey board, examining the rearing boxes in queen raising, etc., smoke the hive well. In-short, use smoke freely when about to perform any operation upon the bees. Before touching the hive give the bees two or three smart puffs at each entrance of the hive; then commence your operations immediately. If the honey board is over the brood section, and your operations are to be performed in that part of the hive, raise the board just enough to puff in the smoke, but not enough for the bees to come out. Give them the smoke here freely for about one minute, before you remove the board. They will show their submission by a loud humming throughout the hive. When they set up this humming noise is the time to proceed with your work. Remove the honey board entirely, keeping the smoker at hand ready for use, and giving them a puff of smoke occasionally to keep them under submission.
It is best for the inexperienced bee raiser to protect the hands and face in all operations, at least until he feels perfect confidence in his ability to avoid irritating the bees sufficiently to cause them to sting. To protect the hands, wear thick woolen mittens, with very long wrists, so they will come up over the dress or coat sleeve, thus protecting the hands and wrists completely from stings. To protect the face and neck, get coarse black lace, one-half yard wide and a yard and a quarter in length. Take three-fourths of this piece for the front breadth, and the balance for the back breadth. Seam together at the selvedges, and gather the upper edge on an elastic cord so as to fit closely, and draw around the crown of the hat When putting on the hat ready for use, leave the longer part in front, to button beneath the coat or vest of a gentleman or the sack of a lady. At the back the lace tucks beneath the collar. Thus protected, we are perfectly safe from stings, and can see as well, and perform all operations nearly as well, as when uncovered.