IIIK 15 EE. 297 



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 pnft's 

 soon fill the hive with the stnpefving; smoke, under whose etFccts, after a 

 brief buzz of indignant astonishment, the bees are heard falling- as thic^k 

 as hail, and in a tew 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-observ- 

 ance 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 pnrpose is not admitted 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 cond\*, ^nd do considerable mischief. The 

 tube, therefore, should be a very long one, and small in diameter. There 

 is no hurry about the operation, work the bellows quite deliberately, 

 and the danger of burning the poor bees, or spoiling the combs, will be 

 avoided. There is hardly a more pitiable sight than to find on turning 

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

 shriveled wings — 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 fumi- 

 gating box made merely 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 recently. The box and tube were made 

 according to order, the clay prepared for stopping the entrance of the 

 hive round the tub?*, the fungus was duly lighted, placed in the box, the 

 bellows fitted, and then vigorously worked. Suddenly, while the oper- 

 ators wore complacently pufting away at the bellows, and congratulatii'g 

 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 fiight. So, lest you meet with 

 a similar misfortune, give particular ordeis to have the whole affair made 

 fire-proof, and then you may proceed v/ithout 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 tc^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 vapor, they dive to the bottom of an empty cell, and 

 sometimes are so protected by this precaution, that they revive ^atln-r 

 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, besides being free from a slight tinge 

 of sulphury flavor, which hangs about them for a long time. 

 13^^ 



