BEES 101 



almost any field where mushrooms grow, Liit if none grows 

 near the operator, it may be cheaply procured, ready dried 

 and prepared, at the herbalists' in Covent Garden, and other 

 places. It should always be gathered when nearly ripe in 

 dry weather, and either exposed to the heat of the sim or 

 placed in an oven until it turns brown and leathery. Some 

 always squeeze it flat during the drying process, as it then 

 can be packed easier, and appears to take fire sooner than if 

 left to dry in any shape it chooses to take. In order to 

 insure its burning freely when lighted, some recommend 

 that when dried, it should be dipped in a very weak solution 

 of saltpetre, and again dried. There are many ways of 

 applying the smoke, but all are useless unless the fungus is 

 retained outside the hive, and only the smoke permitted to 

 enter, as the bees are sure to fall on the burning* mass, and 

 thus many will be killed or maimed. Moreover, the operator 

 ought to be able to regulate the amount of smoke poured 

 into the hive. Mr. Cotton, the author of " My Bee-Book," 

 managed it by having a tin box made to fit the nose of a 

 pair of bellows, in which was placed a piece of lighted 

 fungus about twice the size of a hen's egg*. There were two 

 openings in the box, one to admit the nose of the bellows, 

 and the other immediately opposite, from which the smoke 

 poured. The box being fixed on the nose of the bellows, 

 and the end being placed against the entrance of the hive, a 

 few vigorous puifs soon fill the hive with the stupif3dng 

 smoke, under whose effects, after a brief buzz of indignant 

 astonishment, the bees are heard falling as thick as hail, and 

 in a few minutes, all is still within. 



In performing the work of fumigation, many failures have 

 occurred, from setting about the operation too hastily, or 

 from the non-observance of a few rules that can be easily 

 remembered, and as easily put in practice. In the first 

 place, great care must be taken that the smoke of the 

 fungus or other material used for the purpose is not ad- 

 mitted into the hive at too high a temperature. If this is 

 the case, the heat of the smoke will in the first place scorch 

 and kill the bees who will rush to the entrance of the hive 

 on the first intrusion of the fumigating tube, and will also 

 melt the wax of the combs, and do considerable mischief- 

 The tube, therefore, should be a very long one, and small in 



