36 chapman’s handy-book. 
iron about two feet long 1 , with a square blade at one end, 
sharp at the bottom and side, and a lancet shaped biade at 
the other, an inch and a ball long’, and a quarter ol an 
inch or less over: a bunch of leathers : a basin of water to 
keep your hands free from honey : and a roll ol linen rags, 
in order that you may be able to blow some smoke, as 
wanted, into the hive. 
The most complete form of the bee-smoker is this :— 
Have a little tin box made two inches each way, put 
together with hard solder, so that it may not give with 
the heat which it will have to bear. A pipe should be 
soldered into the bottom of the box, and fit tightly into a 
pair of bellows. Out of the lid another pipe should come 
to carry the smoke into the hive. The best kind of 
bellows are the patent circular bellows ; for they keep up 
a continuous stream of air, and the bottom of the box 
itself may be fitted into their mouth. This is nearly the 
same thing as gardeners use for fumigating their choice 
plants ; and as gardening and bee keeping are twin sisters, 
a pair of fumigating bellows may be made to do double 
duty. But any kind of bellows will do, if the smoking 
box be carefully fitted into the nozzle. 
The linen rags must be quite dry. I find it best to roll 
them up loosely in the shape of a sausage, and then cut 
them into lengths of an inch and a half, so that they may 
go easily into the box. Get the slice of rag well alight 
with a smouldering fire (not flaming), and then put it into 
the box, with the lighted end towards the bellows, rolled 
loosely together, that the air may pass freely through. 
When the rags are alight, give the bellows to one of your 
assistants, whose business it should be to keep them so, by 
giving every now and then a little puff, so as to be able to 
put the smoker into your hand whenever you want it, 
ready for instant use. Another of your assistants should 
in like manner be appointed knight of the feathers, and a 
third have charge of the comb knife, so that either may 
be put into your hand directly you call for it. 
If you cannot command so many pair of willing- hands, 
have a spare table by you, on which to lay down your 
different tools, that you may know where to put your hand 
