CHAPTER XIII.HANDLING BEES.
But some one asks the question, shall we not receive those merciless stings, or be introduced to what "Josh" calls the "business end of the bee?" Perhaps there is no more causeless, or more common dread, in existence, than this of bees' stings. When bees are gathering, they will never sting unless provoked. When at the hives—especially if Italians—they will rarely make an attack. The common belief, too, that some persons are more liable to attack than others, is, I think, put too strong. With the best opportunity to judge, with our hundreds of students, I think I may safely say that one is almost always as liable to attack as another, except that he is more quiet, or does not greet the usually amiable passer-by, with those terrific thrusts, which would vanquish even a practiced pugilist. Occasionally a personmayhave a peculiar odor about his person that angers bees and invites their darting tilts, with drawn swords, venom-tipped, yet, though I take my large classes each season, at frequent intervals, to see and handle the bees, each for himself, I still await the first proof of the fact, that one person is more liable to be stung than another, providing each carries himself with that composed and dignified bearing, that is so pleasing to the bees. True, some people, filled with dread, and the belief that bees regard them with special hate and malice, are so ready for the battle, that they commence the strife with nervous head-shakes and beating of the air, and thus force the bees to battle,nolens volens. I believe that only such are regarded with special aversion by the bees. Hence, I believe that no one need be stung.
Bees should never be jarred, nor irritated by quick motions. Those with nervous temperaments—and I plead very guilty on this point—need not give up, but at first better protecttheir faces, and perhaps even their hands, till time and experience show them that fear is vain; then they will divest themselves of all such useless encumbrances. Bees are more cross when they are gathering no honey, and at such times, black bees and hybrids, especially, are so irritable that even the experienced apiarist will wish a veil.
This should be made of black tarlatan, sewed up like a bag, a half yard long, without top or bottom, and with a diameter of the rim of a common straw-hat. Gather the top with braid, so that it will just slip over the crown of the hat—else, sew it to the edge of the rim of some cheap, cool hat, in fact, I prefer this style—and gather the bottom with rubber cord or rubber tape, so that it may be drawn over the hat rim, and then over the head, as we adjust the hat.
Fig. 62.
Fig. 62.
Some prefer to dispense with the rubber cord at the bottom (Fig, 62), and have the veil long so as to be gathered in by the coat or dress. If the black tarlatan troubles by coloring the shirt or collar, the lower part may be made of white netting. When in use, the rubber cord draws the lower part close about the neck, or the lower part tucks within the coat or vest (Fig, 62), and we are safe. This kind of a veil iscool, does not impede vision at all, and can be made by any woman at a cost of less than twenty cents. Common buckskin or sheep-skin gloves can be used, as it will scarcely pay to get special gloves for the purpose, for the most timid person—I speak from experience—will soon consider gloves an unnecessary nuisance.
Special rubber gloves are sold by those who keep on hand apiarian supplies.
Some apiarists think that dark clothing is specially obnoxious to bees.
For ladies, my friend, Mrs. Baker, recommends a dress which, by use of the rubber skirt-lift or other device, can be instantly raised or lowered. This will be convenient in the apiary, and tidy anywhere. The Gabrielle style is preferred, and of a length just to reach the floor. It should be belted at the waist, and cut down from the neck in front, one-third the length of the waist, to permit the tucking in of the veil. The under-waist should fasten close about the neck. The sleeves should be quite long to allow free use of the arms, and gathered in with a rubber cord at the wrist, which will hug the rubber gauntlets or arm, and prevent bees from crawling up the sleeves. The pantalets should be straight and full, and should also have the rubber cord in the hem to draw them close about the top of the shoes.
Mrs. Baker also places great stress on the wet "head-cap," which she believes the men even would find a great comfort. This is a simple, close-fitting cap, made of two thicknesses of coarse toweling. The head is wet with cold water, and the cap wet in the same, wrung out, and placed on the head.
Mrs. Baker would have the dress neat and clean, and so trimmed that the lady apiarist would ever be ready to greet her brother or sister apiarists. In such a dress there is no danger of stings, and with it there is that show of neatness and taste, without which no pursuit could attract the attention, or at least the patronage, of our refined women.
In harvest seasons, the bees, especially if Italians, can almost always be handled without their showing resentment. But at other times, and whenever they object to necessaryfamiliarity, we have only to cause them to fill with honey to render them harmless, unless we pinch them. This can be done by closing the hive so that the bees cannot get out, and then rapping on the hive for four or five minutes. Those within will fill with honey, those without will be tamed by surprise, and all will be quiet. Sprinkling the bees with sweetened water will also tend to render them amiable, and will make them more ready to unite, to receive a queen, and less apt to sting. Still another method, more convenient, is to smoke the bees. A little smoke blown among the bees will scarcely ever fail to quiet them, though I have known black bees in autumn, to be very slow to yield. Dry cotton cloth, closely wound and sewed or tied, or better, pieces of dry, rotten wood, are excellent for the purpose of smoking. These are easily handled, and will burn for a long time. But best of all is a
This is a tin tube attached to a bellows. Cloth or rotten wood can be burned in the tube, and will remain burning a long time. The smoke can be directed at pleasure, the bellows easily worked, and the smoker used without any disagreeable effects or danger from fire. It can be got from any dealer in bee apparatus, and only costs from $1.25 to $2.00. I most heartily recommend it to all.
There are two smokers in use, which I have found very valuable, and both of which are worthy of recommendation.
This smoker (Fig, 63,a) was a gift to bee-keepers by the late Mr. Quinby, and not patented; though I supposed it was, and so stated in a former edition of this work. Though a similar device had been previously used in Europe, without doubt Mr. Quinby was not aware of the fact, and as he was the person to bring it to the notice of bee-keepers, and to make it so perfect as to challenge the attention and win the favor of apiaristsinstanter, he is certainly worthy of great praise, and deserving of hearty gratitude. This smoker, until a better one appeared, was a very valuable and desirable instrument. Its faults were, lack of strength, too small afire-tube, too little draft when not in use, so that the fire would go out, and too great liability to fall over on the side, when the fire was sure to be extinguished. Many of these defects, however, have been corrected, and other improvements made in a new smoker, called the Improved Quinby (Fig, 63,b).
Fig. 63.
Fig. 63.
This smoker (Fig, 64) not only meets all the requirements, which are wanting in the old Quinby smoker, but shows by its whole construction, that it has not only as a whole, but in every part, been subject to the severest test, and the closest, thought and study.
Fig. 64.
Fig. 64.
At first sight this seems an improved copy of Mr. Quinby's smoker, and so I first thought, though I only saw it in Mr. Bingham's hand at a Convention. I have since used it, examined it in every part, and have to say that it is not a Quinby smoker. The bellows, the valve, the cut-off, and even the form, are all peculiar. The special point to be commended, and, I suppose, the only one patentable, is the cut-off between the bellows and fire-tube, so that the fire seldom goes out, while even hard-wood, as suggested by the inventor, forms an excellent and ever-ready fuel. The valve for the entrance of air to the bellows, permits rapid work, the spring is of the best clock-spring material, the leather perfect, not split sheep-skin, while the whole construction of the bellows, and the plan of the fire-screen and cut-off draft, show much thought and ingenuity. I am thus full in this description, that I may not only benefit my readers, all of whom will want a smoker, but also out of gratitude to Mr. Bingham, who has conferred such a favor on American apiarists. There are three sizes, which may be bought for $1.00, $1.50 and $1.75, respectively, including postage.
Mr. Bingham, to protect himself, and preserve the quality of his invention, has procured a patent. This, provided he has only patented his own invention, is certainly his right, which I think honesty requires us all to respect. Like Mr. Langstroth, he has given us a valuable instrument; let us see that he is not defrauded out of the justly earned reward for his invention.
Brother apiarists, let us cease this unjust clamor against patents and patentees. If a man procures a patent on a worthless thing, let him alone, and where is the damage? If a man procures a patent on a valuable and desirable invention, then buy it, or pay for the right to make it, and thus keep the Eighth and Tenth Commandments (Exodus, 20th chap., 8th and 10th verses). Let us never buy an article unless we know it is valuable and desirable for us, no matter how stoutly importuned; but for honesty's sake, and that we may encourage more inventions, let us respect a man's patent as we would any other property. If we are in doubt as to the correctness of some person's claim, let us not be forced to pay a bonus, but first write to some candid editor or other authority, and if we find a man has a right to the article, thenpay as we would any other debt. I should be very suspicious of any man's honesty who was not willing to respect such rights.
Approach the hive, blow a little smoke in at the entrance, then open from above, and blow in smoke as required. If at any time the bees seem irritable, a few puffs from the smoker will subdue them. Thus, any person may handle his bees with perfect freedom and safety. If at any time the fire-chamber and escape-pipe become filled with soot, they can easily be cleaned by revolving an iron or hard-wood stick inside of them.
In case a person is stung, he should step back a little for a moment, as the pungent odor of the venom is likely to anger the bees and induce further stinging. The sting should be withdrawn, and if the pain is such as to prove troublesome, apply a little ammonia. The venom is an acid, and is neutralized by the alkali. Pressing over the sting with the barrel of a watch-key is also said to be of some use in staying the progress of the poison in the circulation of the blood. In case horses are badly stung, as sometimes happens, they should be taken as speedily as possible into a barn (a man, too, may escape angry bees by entering a building), where the bees will seldom follow, then wash the horses in soda water, and cover with blankets wet in cold water.
It is often stated that sweaty horses and people are obnoxious to the bees, and hence, almost sure targets for their barbed arrows. In warm weather I perspire most profusely, yet am scarcely ever stung, since I have learned to control my nerves. I once kept my bees in the front yard—they looked beautiful on the green lawn—within two rods of a main thoroughfare, and not infrequently let my horse, covered with sweat upon my return from a drive, crop the grass, while cooling off, right in the same yard. Of course, there was some danger, but I never knew my horse to get stung. Why, then, the theory? May not the more frequent stings be consequentupon the warm, nervous condition of the individual? The man is more ready to strike and jerk, the horse to stamp and switch. The switching of the horse's tail, like the whisker trap of a full beard, will anger even a good-natured bee. I should dread the motions more than the sweat, though it may be true that there is a peculiarity in the odor from either the sensible or insensible perspiration of some persons, that angers the bees and provokes the use of their terrible weapons.