100 THE PEACriCAL BEE GUIDE. 



apart. The stand can be carried about the apiary, and set 

 down where required, without danger of breaking the combs 

 or of injuring the bees that may be upon them. Its usefulness 

 may be further observed on referring to the illustration facing 

 page So, and to figures 72, 73, 77 and 97. 



1 73. C m b BO X When 



combs are being transferred, 

 removed for extraction, or car- 

 ried about the apiary, it is ad- 

 visable, in order to minimise 

 the risk of robbing (308) to 

 have a comb box in which they 

 can be placed. The comb box 

 illustrated (Fig. 76), is inter- 

 nally 17-i" long X gj" deep x 

 g"- wide. Two carriers are 

 nailed at the ends inside, i" 

 Fig. 76 -COMB BO^. ^^^^ the top, to take the 



shoulders of the frames. A handle is fixed on the lid, and a 

 cone escape (273) permits the exit of any bees that may have 

 been shut inside. 



174. Vaseline, or Petroleum Jelly, is applied to the shoulders 

 of frames, to the carriers on which they rest, and to the 

 bottoms of crates, etc., to prevent the propolising of them by 

 the bees (266). It is so desirable to have all hive fittings easy 

 of removal, without jarring, that the application of vaseline or 

 petroleum jelly should never "be omitted by the bee-keeper who 

 desires to perform his manipulations without needlessly pro- 

 voking his bees (168). The material, which is inexpensive, 

 may be applied with a small paste brush. 



175. Preparing {he Smoker The smoker (126) should be 



in good order, and the fuel prepared beforehand, for it is most 

 disconcerting to have the smoker give out when operations 

 are in progress. Almost any dry fuel that will burn may be 

 used — dry, rotten wood, rag, or brown paper. Put a couple 

 of ciuarts of hot water into a bowl; dissolve in it, say, one or 

 two ounces of saltpetre ; soak a quantity of brown paper in 

 the liquid, and when dry, cut it in strips about four inches 

 wide. Roll one of the strips loosely; light one end, and put 

 it into the smoker, lighted end down. Small rolls of dry brown 

 paper may be added from time to time as the fuel in the 

 smoker becomes exhausted. 



176. Preparing the Carbolic Cloth (127).— Procure from any 

 chemist a bottle with an asperser cork. In this make a solu- 

 tion of I part Calvert's No. 5 Carbolic Acid to 10 parts water. 

 Take a piece of ticking, caUco, or linen, say 24" x 18", which, 



