218 THE BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 
stream ot smoke will issue, and can be driven in 
any direction.” The figure is self-explaining without 
the need of the letters added to it by the engraver. 
The substance hitherto chiefly recommended for 
the fumigation or stupefying of bees is a kind of 
fungus, found in the autumn, crowing often very 
large and round, mostly in rich pastures or planta- 
tions. It is the Lycoperdon giganteum, but in 
common parlance variously called, as Devil’s snuff- 
box, fuzz-ball, or puff-ball. It should be gathered 
when nearly ripe. Dry it in the sun, or a cool 
oven, and preserve it from damp. It is then a 
spongy substance, containing brown dust, and burns 
with an offensive smell. The frequent difficulty in 
procuring this material led me to make trial of 
another kind of fungus, called Racodiwm cellare, or 
mouse-skin Byssus. It may be found growing in 
large wine or beer vaults, in immense dark-coloured 
bunches or festoons, suspended from the roof, often 
wearing a handsome appearance. In a single such 
vault in London, I have seen as much as would 
suffice for a large portion of the bee-keepers in 
Great Britain; and I can recommend it (not too 
freely used) as even more efficacious than the other 
fungus. It requires no preparation, igniting and 
smouldering readily, and may be preserved for 
years. 
The use of smoke and the fumigator is in request 
for nearly all operations with bees; but in effecting 
the union of colonies the process is pursued till it 
not only repels and quiets, but absolutely deprives 
them of consciousness. The hive which is by this 
