23 JULY 1937, Page 6

I met a boy this week collecting a particular fungus

which grows on elm trees—none other, he said, suited his purpose, which was to smoke out wasps. It burned like tinder when dry ; a burning lump placed at the entrance dispersed the strongest colony and in the middle of the fumes the nest, a foot or so underground, could be dug out with safety and the " brood " (or eggs) secured for use as bait, for which purpose it had no rival. A fruit-farmer near by gave him sixpence for every wasp nest he destroyed, so he was paid for his pleasure.

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