§ XXI.] FUMICATORS. 207 



fumigating apparatus described by Mr. Nutt, and is 

 used in the following manner : Have a straw hive or 

 other vessel ready that will match in circumference 

 the hive intended to be fumigated. If the empty hive 

 have a conical top it will not remain crown A- 

 downwards without a rest ; in this case it will ^ii^ 

 be convenient to invert it on a pail. Having j 

 ascertained that the hive to be operated upon ^t'^ 

 and the empty one in its reversed position ^^^^ 

 nearly match in size, take half a packet of the prepared 

 fungus, fire it well, and place it in the box or fumigator ; 

 place this in the centre of the empty hive, then bring the 

 occupied hive directly over, so as to receive the fumes of 

 smoke. To keep all close, put a wet cloth round the junc- 

 tures of the two hives. After a minute or two the bees 

 may be heard dropping heavily into the lower empty hive, 

 where they lie stupefied. After a little while the old 

 hive may be gently tapped upon to make them fall more 

 quickly. On removing the upper hive the bees from it 

 will be found lying quiet at the bottom of the lower 

 one, when the intended operation — of uniting different 

 colonies, searching for the queen, or whatever else it may 

 be — must be promptly performed. 

 The "Tube Fumigator," which 

 will be found to possess many ad- 

 vantages over the above, is useful 

 for several purposes. When a frame hive has to be 

 disturbed it is requisite to raise the lid and blow a little 



