BBE-KEBPER'a MANUAL. 309 



It consists of an ordinary bellows, with a tin tube, 

 about three inches long, and two in diameter, fitted over 

 the air hole. The cover to this tube is perforated with 

 holes ; and the air hole is covered with tin, also perfo- 

 rated in like manner. When this apparatus is used, open 

 the tube, put in the tobacco ignited, close it, and the 

 action of the bellows carries the smoke out of the bel- 

 lows-pipe. This is the most simple and practical fiimi- 

 gator in use. 



UNITING STOCKS. 



It often happens that the apiarian finds it necessary 

 to unite two of his stocks, or old families. The cause 

 that leads to such a necessity, is frequently from over- 

 swarming, or sending out more colonies than can be 

 safely spared ; thereby weakening the parent family so 

 much, as not to be able to recover during the season. 

 When two weak families exist of this character, if they 

 are united, one prosperous family will be the result; 

 whereas, if left separate, both would be destroyed. 



The difficulty attending the union of old families, lies 

 in their unwillingness to mix peaceably. There is a 

 certain peculiar scent pertaining to the bees of every 

 family, and especially to old ones. In order to obviate 

 this difficulty, and cause both families to mix without 

 strife, the following plan may be adopted. Take one of 



