20 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
and removed from the hive while the bees are at full 
work.” 
My experience with carbolic acid leads me to regard 
it as quite invaluable in certain operations, but I 
could not subdue an irritable stock so promptly by 
the means Mr. Rayner gives as with smoke. Painting 
over the frames occupies considerable time, and any 
but an expert would be likely to give the bees first 
chance. The visibility of the smoke is an advantage 
to the learner, and he can drive a stream some 
distance before him, while with a feather he must 
come to close quarters. With a powerful spray-pro- 
ducer, such as used by gardeners, and holding half-a- 
pint of water, with about -V^h part Calvert’s No. 5 
carbolic acid, I have managed many stocks, since my 
experiments on the cure of foul brood (see “Diseases ”), 
wdth most satisfactory results. To Mr. Howard, how- 
ever, must be ascribed the credit of calling the 
attention of bee-keepers to the value of the carbolic 
spray. He adds about 10 per cent, of good liquid 
carbolic acid to warm water, and, as the quilt is 
being withdrawn, applies this in fine splashes from 
a flat brush, or, preferably, by an atomiser. The 
bees instantly retreat in dismay ; and, should they 
appear again to apparently calculate what chance 
they have with the enemy, a second fine shower com- 
pletely cows them. This treatment is in itself anti- 
septic, and therefore useful where disease threatens, 
as Mr. Rayner wisely hints, and checks robbing (see 
“ Robbing”) in a most helpful manner. The atomisers 
of the drawing-room and operating-theatre are too 
delicate for apiary work, and if the makers would 
