152 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



swarra, if the hive is full of comb is preferable to others, as they 

 build less drone comb, and have a young queen; a stock of bees 

 of any age should be rejected, if over supplied with drone comb. 



Third. A vigorous and healthy colony, at this time of the year, 

 should have brood in every comb occupied by the bees, and the 

 brood should extend down nearly to the bottom of the combs. 



That we may be enabled to ascertain the exact condition of each 

 stock, blow a little smoke into the entrance of the hive, then care- 

 fully tip it back, blow more smoke between every space occupied 

 by bees. This frightens them from their combs and brood, and 

 causes a hasty retreat into the upper part of the hive, thus giving 

 a fine opportunity for inspection. We can easily determine the 

 condition of the combs, the proportion of drone comb, the num- 

 ber of combs occupied with brood, and to what extent; in fact, 

 learn the exact condition and value of the colony, and judge with 

 a degree of accuracy of its probable returns for the coming sea- 

 son. Having finished the examination, place the hive carefully 

 back again on the stand, to allow all returning and absent bees to 

 enter before preparing it for moving, when the bees are to be 

 again smoked the same as before, then carefully set the hive bottom 

 upwards, at once place over the whole bottom a square of cheese 

 capping considerably larger than the square of the hive, place 

 some strips of wood on this cheese capping, tacking it around the 

 edge. Previous to this, however, and even before moving the 

 hive from the stand, with paper stop all holes where the bees are 

 liable to escape. It requires only a few minutes to have all this 

 work well done, and the hive placed bottom upwards in a light 

 spring wagon ready for transporting. In this condition there 

 need be no fear of the combs breaking down during the journey. 



Arriving at the place prepared for the colony, put the bottom 

 board on the stand, blow smoke thoroughly all through the cheese 

 capping, then remove it and set the hive on the bottom board, 

 right side up. The next day the bees will assume their accustomed 

 duties as though nothing had happened. 



The sting of the bee, doubtless, is the greatest hindrance to the 

 development of apiculture and giving it rank beside that of the 

 dairy and sheep-husbandry. 



I have sometimes thought if our cows had stings it would be 

 well, certainly for the cows. It is very rare that a bee uses its 

 sting, except in self defence, or in the defence of its home. At 



