50 



Advanced Bee CulUivi 



mittens on tr>-ing to catch mice. Perhaps a beginner might tolerate 

 them until his timidit)' has worn off. 



I know of no comfort in the apiary greater than a smooth surface 

 (of earth) thickl)- covered with grass. A lawn-mower can scarcely 

 be called a comfort — it is a necessity. Sprinkle salt around the hives 

 to kill the grass a distance of six inches from each hive, then the lawn- 

 mower can cut all of the grass that grows. 



About the first thing needed upon beginning work in the apiary 

 is a smoker ; and oh how much comfort or discomfort can come through 

 this little implement! If any of my readers have suffered from smokers 

 that spill fire, that become stopped up with soot, that go out, or from 

 fuel that will not burn, let them get a Bingham or a Root smoker; get 



' w«.> 



Holding a Smoker lii-tween the Knees 

 while ManipulatiiiK Frames. 



Working the Bellows of the Smoker while 

 Holding between the Knees. 



a barrel of planer shavings from dry pine, to use as a fuel, and then 

 take comfort. If you have never used shavings as a fuel, you may have 

 trouble in getting the fire to going. Don't put in too many shavings 

 at first. Leave off the cover and keep puffing until they have burned 

 down to cinders before putting in more. A little kerosene oil, from an 

 oil-can, as has been mentioned, is a great help in starting the fire. When 

 through using the smoker, don't throw out the fire, but stop up the nozzle 

 with a wad of grass, thus smothering the fire, and the charred remains 

 left in the bottom of' the smoker will light very readily at the touch of 



