18 



STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUBE. 



drones, else ventilation is obstructed and the colony may suffocate 

 if weather conditions are right or shade is lacking. As a queen trap, 

 it must be looked at every day, or the queen may be caught and 

 perish if too long confined or a storm occurs. Many bee-keepers 

 have given up their use. 



SMOKER. 



A good smoker is absolutely necessary. 

 Without one it is impossible to readily 

 handle the bees under all the varying con- 

 ditions to be met ^A'ith. Get one large 

 enough. One having a barrel three and 

 one-half inches in diameter is a good size, 

 but if many bees are kept, a larger one will 

 be found better. (Fig. 14.) 



Fig, 14. — Smoker. 



SMOKER FUEL. 



Use any material which will give a slow burning fire and yield an 

 abundance of smoke when the Ijellows are worked. Drj^ rotten wood 

 is a staple fuel, old burlap bagging is good, greasy waste gives an 

 abundance of smoke, but is most unpleasant in odor. The writer 

 finds dead wild cherry a delightful fuel to use. The dry dead twigs 

 up to the size of one's finger snap like pipe stems and burn well. 

 Larger limbs need to decay until easily broken with the hands. The 

 smoke has a spicj^ odor, mild, sweet and most pleasant, and which 

 rarely causes the eyes to smart. . Be sure and have the fire well going 

 in the smoker before beginning work with the bees. Keep a supply 

 of dry fuel ready at hand and as soon as the smoker by blowing 

 sparks shows signs of burning cut replenish it. 



Perhaps no implement used by the bee-keeper is more misunder- 

 stood and misused than the smoker. With a good smoker and good 

 fuel the skilled bee-man can handle the ugliest bees, without it the 

 best bees may drive him off. 



