THE HONEY HARVEST. 51 



the manner in which I, myself, recommend this very simple 

 process to be performed. 



" Fumigation" is a word employed by bee-keepers to express 

 the process in which, by the aid of certain intoxicating smoke, 

 the insects become temporarily stupefied, in which state they are 

 perfectly harmless, and may be deprived of their honey without 

 any risk or trouble. They subsequently soon recover from their 

 stupefaction, and are nothing the worse for it. Indeed, as Mr. 

 Cotton quaintly observes, this intoxication proves, contrary to its 

 effects in the case of man, rather salutary than otherwise. The 

 dried Fungus Pulvurulentus, or fuzz ball ; the Bovista gigantea, 

 or frog-cheese, will be found best for that purpose : but, in their 

 absence, rags steeped in a solution of saltpetre, or a few tobacco 

 leaves, wrapped in brown paper, will do nearly as well. If 

 tobacco be used, care is necessary, lest the fumigation be carried 

 to too great an extent, so as to cause the death of some or all of 

 your stock. Persons not accustomed to deal with bees, should 

 wear an over-all of thin gauze over the head and breast, and 

 gloves on their hands. With this, and a little bottle in their 

 waistcoat-pocket, containing aqua ammoniae, or aqua potassse, to 

 be used in case of accident, they need have no cause for trepida- 

 tion, but can go to work with coolness and deliberation. 



There should be provided, for the purpose of fumigation, a 

 small tin box, with a tube extending from each of two opposite 

 ends ; one end of this tube being so fashioned that it can readily 

 be inserted into the hive, and the other so formed, that it can 

 readily be attached to the tube of an ordinary bellows. The box 

 should be so formed that it can be opened at pleasure. 



In this box the matter to be employed in fumigation is first 

 placed, having, of course, been previously ignited, and the proper 

 end of the tube having been inserted into the hive at the lower 

 part, ply the bellows very gently. The bees begin at once to 

 feel the effects of the smoke. At first, you will hear an unusual 

 humming and commotion, but in less than ten minutes all will 

 be still. The bees will fall upon the board under the hive, and 

 lie quite still, as if dead. The hive may then be removed, and 

 a fresh hive — the interior well smeared with honey — may be 

 placed over them, or they may be united to another stock, which 

 should also be previously fumigated, one queen being removed. 



Some persons may conceive it to be a difficult matter to come 

 at the queen. When fumigation is resorted to, she is, of course, 



