HIVE, AND HOW TO HANDLE IT 93 



in the bottom of the fire-chamber, touch a match to 

 it, and crowd in above it material which will make 

 plenty of smoke, and will not burn too rapidly; 

 give a puff or two with the bellows to be sure that 

 the fire is started. We have used excelsior in our 

 smoker because it was near at hand, but it is not a 

 perfect or lasting fuel. Fine chips, especially 

 planer shavings, old rags, greasy cotton waste, and 

 even pine needles are used. Anything is desirable 

 that will make a smudge and will not burn out too 

 quickly; for when we are working with the bees we 

 have little time or inclination to stop and "putter" 

 with the smoker; and we cannot afford to have the 

 smoke give out at the critical moment when we most 

 need its protecting incense. A minimum amount 

 of fire with the maximum amount of smoke is the 

 desirable quality in the smoker. If the fire gets too 

 hot the blasts will burn the bees, which is an outrage, 

 and which is never permitted by a civilised individ- 

 ual. The Cornell smoker has a hook attached to 

 the bellows, so it may be hung on the edge of the 

 open hive to be at hand in time of need. If it be- 

 comes too hot, we lay it flat on the ground so as to 

 stop the draft. Each time after the smoker is used 

 it should be emptied, otherwise it is likely to start 

 a conflagration. We have an ash pail near the 

 apiary in which we always empty the smoker on our 

 way back to the bee-room. Mr. Root speaks of 

 never using the smoker until it is needed; when his 

 bees trouble him, he gently pats them on the back 

 with a little grass to get them out of his way as he 



