>Keith said:
I never said I did not need smoke I said I no longer use smoke, in simple
terms there are better ways to manage bees than with smoke.
Please call first and get your facts straight;

I guess I misunderstood what you meant but here is exactly what you said in
your post  9-21-05 6:48 AM.

"My smoker is now amongst other items in my beekeeping museum collection to
be handed down in antiquity"

"I wonder how many other useless beekeeping items there are in the world of
beekeeping"

I never met a commercial beekeeper that did not keep a lit smoker around
when working yards of bees.

Even suggesting new beekeepers might work their hives without the use of a
smoker causes me concern. To late to light a smoker after the bees get riled
and serious stinging has began. I ALWAYS teach new beekeepers to smoke a
sting (even in a suit) to mask the alarm odor.

If you want to work your bees in the nude (we have a nudist beekeeper in our
club) or without smoke or protection is fine with all on the list. I worry
about the newbeeks!  I for one do not consider the smoker an obsolete piece
of equipment.

Bob

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