THE HONEY HARVEST. 53 



recovery of the bees, and they may then be removed with safety 

 to their ordinary stand. 



Various other precautions besides outer clothing are recom- 

 mended by writers on bee management — such, for instance, as 

 taking a short pipe in the mouth, and smoking during the opera- 

 tion : every one does not, however, smoke. Others recommend 

 taking a drink of ale previous to commencing. Others again 

 recommend rubbing the face and hands with ale or beer ; for my 

 own part, I do not see any absolute necessity for the adoption of 

 any of these measures, if the protecting overall be used ; but if 

 I were to recommend any, it would be that spoken of by Mr. 

 Briggs — viz., water to which a small quantity of creosote has 

 been added. Mr. Briggs adds, " The juice of the Black ocymum, 

 or Indian bazil, is also strongly recommended for the same pur- 

 pose ; and it is said that the bees will not go near to a person 

 whose skin has been recently rubbed with it. It is, I suppose, 

 unnecessary to observe, that aqua potassm will answer the same 

 purpose, and fully as well. These remedies will likewise be found 

 equally efficacious for the sting of that wolf of insects — the 

 ferocious and formidable wasp. It may be as well that I wind up 

 my observations on fumigation with a few directions for the pre- 

 paration of the fuzz balls for that purpose. 



Put the ball into a piece of stout paper, and compress it as 

 tightly as you can ; tie it closely up in this condition, and put it 

 in a moderately cool oven, about as cool as that from which 

 bread has just been withdrawn — let it remain there until it will 

 serve as tinder. The quantity of the prepared fungus necessary 

 for the fumigation of a hive is a piece of about the size of a hen's 

 egg — less may, in some instances, answer ; but it is unquestiona- 

 bly better to have too much than too little. I should have ob- 

 served, that, prior to union, even where fumigation has been em- 

 ployed, the sprinkling with liquid honey should not, on any ac- 

 count, be omitted. 



The system which dispenses altogether with fumigation, called 

 tapping or " Driving," is spoken of favorably by many writers ; 

 it is as follows : — 



When twilight appears, you will find the bees all quietly re- 

 posing in the hive ; let whoever is in the habit of tending the 

 bees be the agent in the process ; no assistance is necessary ; let 

 him or her take an old chair from which the bottom has been 

 either worn or cut away — but a worn one is best, as it best fits 



