FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 73 



sound hard wood will be at once started into a secure 

 fire. 



SALTPETER-RAGS. 



To prepare the saltpeter-rags a crock is kept con- 

 stantly standing, containing a solution of saltpeter. The 



Fig. 2S — Ready for Clipping. 



strength of the solution is not a matter of great nicety. 

 A quarter or half a pound of saltpeter may be used to a 

 gallon of water, and if it evaporates so that the solu- 

 tion becomes stronger, water may be added. A cotton 

 rag dipped in this solution will be ready for use as soon 

 as dried. As a matter of convenience, quite a lot of rags 

 are prepared at a time. They are wrung out of the solu- 



