APPLIANCES. 33 



members of the animal kingdom. It was discovered that, when 

 smoke was blown into a hive, the bees were thrown into a state 

 of great commotion, and with evident trepidation commenced 

 filling their honey sacs from the open cells ; in this condition of 

 demoralisation and surfeit they were comparatively harmless. 

 When this discovery was made we know not ; but, no doubt, 

 it was centuries ago, as the natives of Central Africa, who live on 

 the banks of the Congo, and are great bee-keepers, use smoke 

 when they take the surplus honey (Johnstone). The natives of 

 India do the same. This being so, an appliance was introduced 

 called a "smoker," which consists of a tin cylinder mounted on, and 

 connected with, a bellows ; the cylinder, on being filled with fuel, 

 such as cotton, rotten wood, or brown paper, was lit, and by means 

 of the bellows kept alight, at the same time sending forth a 

 volume of smoke from the nozzle. The great difficulty to contend 

 with was the fact of its " going out," perhaps just as the apiarist 

 was in the middle of some manipulation, and required its services. 

 To leave the bees while he re-lit the smoker, meant their 

 endeavouring to subjugate him, instead of him them ; again, after 

 a smoker has been used a short time, a nasty black fluid runs from 

 it, and will, unless great care is taken, soil the combs, hives, or 

 sections. It has to be frequently filled with fuel, and is very 

 cumbersome. There is also the danger of setting fire to the hives 

 or combs, which is not infrequently done. Knowing these 

 disadvantages we devised another appliance, called a " fumigator," 

 although this is scarcely a correct term to apply to an instrument 

 in connection with which no fire is used or smoke produced. 



The Smoker. Webster's Fumigator. 



This is a zinc cylinder mounted upon, and in direct communi- 

 cation with, a bellows. At one end of this cylinder is an inverted 

 cone, from the lowest part of which a nozzle protrudes ; covering 

 over the hole at the back of this nozzle is a shield, to prevent 

 anything but air or vapour being blown through ; the other end 

 of this cylinder has a cover, the inside of which is furnished with 

 four hooks holding a piece of sponge. The sponge is saturated 

 with carbolic acid, creasote, and water. At the back of this 

 sponge, a piece of carbonate (the common hard, or crystal form) 

 of ammonia is placed; when so prepared, the fumigator is ready 

 for use, and will last, according to the amount of work, for weeks 



