There was bees here in the new world when the Colonist arrived, there just was not very many. Most of the contanent was forested and not a lot of flowers for them. Thyen when the Colonist cleared the land and planted big fields they needed bees to pollinate the crops. Since the European Honey Bee was not as aggressive, the colonist imported them and they became very populer. Few people wanted to domesticate and keep hives of the wild bees.
Both My Grandfathers and my Dad kept bees. My Grandpa Hunter kept what was called wild bees, they were very aggressive. When my Dad robbed them every year those would follow them around and keep after them till they got quite a distance, several hundred yards from the hives. Dad put on extra thick clothing, a hat with a net, taped up his sleeves and all openings in his clothes. He wore thick gloves that was taped at the sleeves and his pants was taped to his boots. Even his head net was taped down. And these bees would go after anything that came near the hive for weeks afterwards. Dad would put something in his smoker to kill them after we got into the shed. Otherwise they would sting anyone that came close. And they would no all leave the honey till they were dead.
My Grandpa Williams had the European Bees. I've seen dad on a cool morning go out and robb them without anything extra on. No head net, just a pair of gloves, and goggles to keep them out of his eyes. He seldom got stung. Dad could pull the soupers and cut out the comb, then just wipe the bees off the honey and put them back into the hive. They would be swarming all around him, but not stinging. As Dad walked away, when he got 20 to 30 yards away the bees would go back to the hive. A few would stay with him, but not many. he would bring the tubs of honey into the kitchen and we would start working it out of the comb with a press. Dad would can it with a big piece of comb in most jars. While Dad and my Grandma was working it they would cut out chunks of dripping comb and give it to us kids. Sometimes there would be a bee ro two on the chunks, we would just wipe them off onto the floor and step on them.
