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. CHAPTER VIII. THE BEE MOTH. IN some localities the bee moth is said to be very destructive, yet I regard the depredations of this insect as much less to be feared than some bee-keepers suppose. The bee moth is the agency provided by nature for returning back to the earth the contents of any hive when left by the bees, in the same manner that the flesh fly is the means provided for returning to the earth the carcase of any animal. I do not believe that a strong, healthy stock of bees was ever attacked and destroyed by the bee moth. The stock must from some cause become reduced in numbers, so there are not bees enough to cover all the comb, before the moth will make an attack. But when the comb is unprotected, the moth follows the instinct of its nature, and deposits her eggs in it. The bees from some cause keep decreasing, and the moth continues depositing her eggs in the vacated comb, until the entire comb of the hive is a complete mass of vile worms, the progeny of the bee moth.