38 
chapman’s handy-book. 
must all be done some hours after dark, or the bees, who 
are already out, will soon signify their dislike of finding 
intruders when they return to the hive. It is a so neces¬ 
sary to be very quick in cutting out the combs, as the bees 
do not remain long in their state of torpor or intoxication, 
and are quite ready on their revival to employ their stings. 
Always examine the combs that are removed, to see it any 
bees are left in them, as notunfrequently, when they begin 
to find that they cannot overpower the vapour, they dive 
to the bottom of an empty cell, and sometimes are so pro¬ 
tected by this precaution, that they revive rather sooner 
than their less fortunate companions. The was of the combs 
thus obtained is much whiter than if sulphur is used, and, 
of course, will fetch a higher price in the market, besides 
being free from a slight tinge of sulphury flavour, which 
hangs about them for a long time. 
For fumigating, the circular bellows, set in motion by a 
winch, are much superior to the double bellows, as a con¬ 
stant stream of smoke is introduced into the hive, instead of 
a series of puffs. Mr. Pettigrew recommends (probably 
because they can be more certainly obtained when wanted), 
cotton rags, tightly rolled up in the form of a candle, and 
applied in the same way as the fungus. If so, it will be 
found advisable to steep the rags in a solution of nitre, as 
otherwise they are very apt to go out before a sufficiency 
of smoke has issued from them. The solution, however, 
must be weak also, or it may do mischief instead of good, 
for ignited nitre is apt to send forth sparks, especially if it 
is urged on by a draught of air. It may be possible that 
ether or chloroform may answer better than either fungus 
or rags, but the experiments do not yet appear to have 
been sufficiently numerous to enable one to speak with 
confidence. At all events, although chloroform and ether 
may not supersede fungus and nitre in stupifying bees, the 
smoke of puff-balls threatens to supersede chloroform and 
ether in their anesthetic power as applied to human beings. 
We are bound to observe that fumigation may not be 
altogether so harmless as is supposed, and therefore should 
not be used without necessity. 
When, after carefully applying the fumigating appa- 
