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DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
‘“A man who kept bees in Ilolborn, wishing to find out where 
they worked, sprinkled them all with a red powder as they came out 
of the hive in the morning. As the heath and thyme were now in full 
bloom, he at once thought that Hampstead, being the nearest heath, 
would be the likeliest place to find his bees. As soon, therefore, as his 
bees were gone away, he hastened to the heights of Hampstead. The 
walk was a long and toilsome one, of at least four miles, in a July sun. 
Hut he trudged manfully on, soon left behind him Camden and Kentish 
towns, and at last was refreshed with the soft summer breeze sweeping 
across the purple and golden bloom of the heath. After a few minutes 
rest on the 'green sward, he began his search, and before long was de- 
lighted to find there, among thousands of other busy bees, his own little 
fellows in the dusty red coats, which he had given them in the morn- 
ing.’ Many of the bees made the journey more than twice in each 
day, thus piloting themselves through sixteen miles of smoke and dust 
within the twelve hours. 
“ If the hives are taken by water, they should always be placed on 
the shore at some distance from the bank, before opening the doors, as 
they will very probably when returning home, wearied and laden with 
their burdens, fall into the water before they can reach the hive. If 
the hives are placed for the season, they should be kept at some little 
distance from other hives, as if they are weak, their more powerful 
neighbors will inevitably plunder them.” 
FUMIGATION. — The following particular description of the manner of 
fumigating or stupefying bees will enable any one to practice it. 
Fumigation implies directing certain smoke of a stupefying character 
into the hives, so as to render the bees harmless while their combs are 
being removed, while at the same time no injury is done to the bees 
themselves. There are several substances which stupefy ; tobacco is one, 
but it is apt to give the wax and honey an unpleasant flavor, and we 
will, therefore, say nothing about it. The best material that can be used 
for this purpose, is the lycoperdon, or common puff-ball. A fine specimen 
of this fungus will grow as large as a child’s head. It may be found in 
almost any field where mushrooms grow. It should always be gathered 
when nearly ripe, in dry weather, and either exposed to the heat of 
the sun or placed in an oven until it turns brown and leathery. Some 
always squeeze it flat during the drying process, as it then can be packed 
easier, and appears to take fire sooner than if left to dry in any shape it. 
chooses to take. In order to insure its burning freely when lighted, 
some recommend that when dried, it should be dipped in a very weak 
solution of saltpetre, and again dried. There are many ways of applying 
the smoke, but all are useless unless the fungus is retained outside the 
hive, and only the smoke permitted to enter, as the bees are sure to fall 
on the burning mass, and thus many will be killed or maimed. More- 
over, the operator ought to be able to regulate the amount ot smoke 
poured into the hive. Mr. Cotton, the author of “My Bee-Book,” 
managed it by having a tin box made to fit the nose of a pair of bellows, 
in which was placed a piece of lighted fungus about twice the size of a 
hen’s egg. There were two openings in the box, one to admit the nose 
of the bellows, and the other immediately opposite, from which the 
