Notes in old circular

[nursebee]

Family brought me a yard sale find, circular 472, a 1914 brochure on "Pennsylvania Beekeeping". Inside this is a 4x6 card with the following printed on it.

33% Commercial Ammonium Nitrate
1-2 lbs.
Burlap 6-8" SQ
1 LB Ammonium Nitrate to 1/2 Gal. Water
Wring out and dry

I assume this is bee related, likely smoker fuel. But I do not know. Does anyone have any knowledge as to what this is?

[Michael Palmer]

Could be for calming the bees using the treated burlap for smoker fuel. I've heard of adding chemical fertilizer to your smoker. Produces nitrous oxide. Knocks the bees out.

[deknow]

yes, i've seen powdered amonium nitrate used in a smoker to knock out bees..pretty dramatic. a good emergency meausre (ie, a swarm in a mall or something).

deknow