FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 67 



to go, but it is not so slow in its action as the rotten wood, and 

 makes a much greater heat, so that chips of sound hard wood 

 will be at once started into a secure fire. 



SALTPETER-EAGS. 



To prepare the saltpeter-rags a crock is kept constantly 

 standing, containing a solution of saltpeter. The strength of 



Fig. 23 — Beady for Clipping. 



the solution is not a matter of great nicety. A quarter or half 

 a pound of saltpeter may be used to a gallon of water, and if it 

 evaporates so that the solution becomes stronger, water may be 

 added. A cotton rag dipped in this solution will be ready for 

 use as soon as dried. As a matter of convenience, -quite a lot 

 of rags are prepared at a time. They are wrung out of the 



