Bee Keeping for Profit. A New System of Bee Management (1880): First Edition.Cotton, Lizzie E., Mrs.
Science
Bee Keeping for Profit. A New System of Bee Management (1880): First Edition.
Cotton, Lizzie E., Mrs.
Bee culture; 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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