BEE-STINGS. 227 



manipulation will remain ill-tempered and passionate 

 for a long period, and will consequently become very 

 difficult to deal with. If, by any means, a stock has 

 thus been excited, it is advisable to leave it alone, 

 and let it quiet down as speedily and thoroughly 

 as possible. 



The use of smoke must not be forgotten, as one of 

 the most potent means of controlling the passion of 

 bees, and causing them to gorge themselves, in which 

 condition of repletion they are much better-tempered 

 than under any other circumstances. 



Various kinds of "smokers" are in use among 

 apiarians, and different substances to be burnt for 

 producing the smoke are recommended. Among the 

 former we may mention the apparatus of Messrs. 

 Abbott of Southall, Neighbour of London, and Blow 

 of Welwyn, Herts : while brown paper, old sacking, 

 touchwood, puff-ball, rags moistened with a solution 

 of nitre and dried, will afford sufficiently satisfac- 

 tory means of fumigating stocks. Bee-keepers will 

 find a few vigorous puffs of tobacco very effectual 

 in alarming the bees, and driving them to fill their 

 honey-bags. There will, however, be some risk of 

 being stung, as one cannot conveniently smoke with 

 a veil on, and where lengthened manipulations are 

 required, it is often necessary to repeat the fumi- 

 gating process, if the bees seem recovering from their 

 first dose, or if many, absent at its administration, 

 have returned to their homes while these are being 

 disturbed. We recommend, therefore, the presence 

 of some kind of fumigating apparatus in every apiary, 

 and in the selection of one it will be found very con- 

 venient to have amongst its advantages the ability 



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