51 



If combs are clean and free from pollen and granulated honey, 

 they are rarely attacked. All empty hives and combs should 

 be looked over often through warm weather and, if moths 

 and larva are found, they may be fumigated. Tier up several 

 hives and on the top bar of the upper one place a shallow dish 

 or saucer into which pour bisulphide of carbon. The gas caused 

 by the evaporation of the liquid is heavier than air and settles 

 down through the combs. 



Extreme care must be taken that the fumes do not reach a 

 flame as the gas is highly inflammable. As the eggs are not 

 killed by the fumes, the process should be repeated every two 

 or three weeks in warm weather. Sulphur fumes may be used 

 in much the same way, except that one would need to have a 

 tight room or box in which combs or hives could be piled. An 

 iron kettle holding live coals may be used on which sulphur is 

 thrown. In either method, care must be used that the fumes 

 are not inhaled, or a fire started. 



Rats and mice do damage in winter by entering hives and 

 destroying combs and causing the loss of colonies. 



The King bird is accused of feeding on bees and doubtless 

 does- to some extent but I am inclined to believe the number of 

 bees taken is not serious, unless birds are present in large num- 

 bers. I am of the opinion; that drones are more often picked up 

 than workers. Of course, if a queen is taken, it is quite a loss. I 

 do not like to kill birds until quite sure they are doing more 

 harm than good. " Be sure you are right then go ahead," is a 

 safe rule in this case. The Purple Martin has also been accused 

 of the same crime, but I think unjustly so. 



Toads are said to feed on bees but I think the harm done by 

 them is small, especially where hives are well off the ground. 



iSkunks are often seen about bee hives, but as mice like to 

 harbor under and about the stands, and also numerous grubs 

 and bugs on which they feed, I have never considered that they 

 do much harm. 



Rendering Wax 



Where one has only a few old con:ibs or a little waste to ren- 

 der into wax and does not feel that they can afford a wax 

 extractor (see Fig. 28) they may save the greater part of t)he 



