224 THE APIARY. 



Should nests be found in the neighbourhood of an 

 apiary, their annihilation must be accomplished, either 

 by blowmg them up with gunpowder, an operation well 

 understood by most country, lads,, or any, other effectual 

 method. The late Mr.- Payne recommended, that a 

 small quantity of gas tar should be put into the mouth 

 of a wasps' nest, and if then covered with earth, the total 

 destruction of the wasps will be accomplished without 

 further trouble.. But to use blazing .straw for the purpose 

 is always dangerous in country districts.. We have lately 

 heard of a very ingenious and successful mode of entrap- 

 ping and killing wasps. Place some sugar or strongly- 

 sweetened compound on the ground in a garden, and 

 place over it a square hand-glass, wedged up an inch or 

 so all round. On this glass, which should have an open- 

 ing at the apex, lodge another, but a sound one. Thp 

 wasps, attracted, by the. sweets, will soon crowd under 

 the lower glass, and, when they have well feeiste^, 

 will ascend into the upper one ; there, between the two, 

 they soon become scorched and perish by the heat of the 

 sun shining on the outer glass. 



The season of 1 864 was most productive for the increase 

 of these prime pests of the apiary, and many hives have 

 severely suffered by their depredations. When oncje 

 wasps in any number have gained an entrance into a 

 hive, the bees can seldom eject them, and the invaders 

 generally remain until they have freely regaled them- 

 selves from the luscious store. They not only con- 



