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next best material ; when used it should be loosely rolled up, 

 or torn into narrow shreds, which may be twisted together. 

 If the paper is first sprinkled with a strong solution of salt- 

 petre and water and then dried, it will improve its smouldering 

 qualities. Eags should not be used, as they tend to foul and 

 clog the apertures in the smoker. The wood or paper should 

 be lighted and thrust smouldering into the cylinder, the burn- 

 ing end downwards. The fuel will continue to smoulder when 

 not in use, if the smoker is placed nozzle upwards. If the 

 smoker becomes clogged, the cylinder should be detached from 

 the bellows, to which it is fastened by screws, and opened so 

 that the tube connecting the bellows and cylinder may be 

 cleaned out. The mouth of the nozzle and the perforated disc 

 at the base of the nozzle should be frequently cleaned. The 

 smoker is a very desirable, but not an essential part of a bee- 

 keeper's outfit. A subduing-cloth (48) is now more generally 

 used for subduing bees, and beekeepers are recommended to 

 use it only, so far as possible. 



The veil (Fig. 13) is used to protect the head and neck from 

 the attacks of bees. lit should be made of 

 46. The Veil. fine netting, roomy enough to cover in 

 the wearer's hat, and long enough to 

 permit of its being tucked in under a man's coat, or when used 

 by a lady, drawn down to a peak on the back and chest and 

 attached by safety pins to the clothes. A net bag about two- 

 feet deep will usually be found suitable. The part of the veil 

 in front of the face should be dark ; light colours impede the 

 vision ; the rest may be of any colour. Veils for the use of men 

 are frequently made with a hole at the top, which is bound 

 with elastic to grip the crown of the hat ; but the bag veil above 

 recommended suits most head-gears, except ladies large hats. 

 Woven wire veils are not recommended. 



Sleevelets (Fig. 13) are made of net or of any suitable material. 



They are about six inches long and fitted 

 46. Sleevelets. with elastic at each end. When in use, 



one end is slipped over the end of the coat 

 sleeve, the other grips the wrist, thus preventing bees from 

 creeping up inside the sleeves. They will be found most use- 

 ful when handling bees, especially in the evenings or in cold 

 weather, under which circumstances bees are specially disposed 

 to creep. 



It is recommended that the beekeeper should possess an 

 "appliance-box" (Fig. 14), in which appli- 

 47. Appliance-box. ances usually required at the apiary may 

 be kept in a suitable dry place, to be car- 

 ried out to the apiary when required for use. A plain wooden 

 box about eighteen inches long, fifteen inches wide, and nine 

 inches deep, fitted with a hinged lid and a handle, will serve the 

 purpose well. In it the following articles, as well as any others 

 for which the individual bee-keeper has a preference, should be 



b2 



