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 face and
hands 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 and 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., are 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 the 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.
The best antidote for stings is the application of water in which
salt has been dissolved--a heaping teaspoonful of salt to a teacupful
of water. Bathe the affected part freely, and in severe cases take
a swallow of the salt and water into the stomach. Avoid rubbing or
irritating the stung part. Be sure to extract the sting immediately, as
the longer it remains, the more serious will be the consequences.
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