103 BEES. 



diameter. There is no hurry about the operation, work the 

 bellows quite deliberately, and the dang-er of burning* the 

 poor bees, or spoiling- the combs will be avoided. There is 

 hardly a more pitiable sig-ht than to find on turning up the 

 hive a number of bees lying on the board, with scorched and 

 shrivelled wing's — a loss of no small importance, as you will 

 want every bee to set to work immediately, to repair the 

 devastations committed in the hive. Another mistake not 

 unfrequently occurs in following* Mr. Cotton's directions too 

 literally. It is not sufficient to have the fumig-ating- box 

 merely made of tin, as will most certainly be done if that 

 order is sent to a tinman, for the heat of the ignited puff- 

 ball will speedily melt the solder, and the whole apparatus 

 will fall to pieces. A case of this kind occurred very re- 

 cently. The box and tube were made according to order, 

 the clay prepared for stopping* the entrance of the hive 

 round the tube, the fungus was duly lighted, placed in the 

 box, the bellows fitted, and then vigorously worked. Sud- 

 denly while the operators were complacently puffing* away 

 at the bellows, and congratulating- themselves on securing 

 both honey and bees by this method, the box fell in pieces, 

 the tube, consequently, was drawn out of the hive door, and 

 out rushed the bees in a tumultuous state of indignation, 

 thereby putting their would-be captors to an ignominious 

 flight. So lest you meet with a similar misfortune, give 

 particular orders to have the whole affair made fire-proof, and 

 then you may proceed without the least danger. Of course 

 this must all be done some hours after dark, or the bees, 

 who are already out, will soon signify their dislike of finding 

 intruders when they return to the hive. It is also necessary 

 to be very quick in cutting out the combs, as the bees do 

 not remain long in their state of torpor or intoxication, and 

 are quite ready on their revival, to employ their stings. 

 Always examine the combs that are removed, to see if any 

 bees are left in them, as not unfrequently, when they begin 

 to find that they cannot overpower the vapour, they dive to 

 the bottom of an empty cell, and sometimes are so pro- 

 tected by this precaution, that they revive rather sooner 

 than their less fortunate companions. The wax of the 

 combs thus obtained is much whiter than if sulphur is used, 

 and, of course^ will fetch a higher price in the market. 



