94 COMB HONEY. 
The former method has the following advantages: (1) After being 
built up to approximately the same strength, most of the colonies 
will be ready for a given manipulation at the same time, thus facili- 
tating the work. (2) It requires a smaller stock of extra brood 
chambers and combs, at least previous to the honey flow. (3) The 
brood is in a more compact form, which is a very desirable condition 
in comb-honey production. (4) When properly done, the total 
number of young bees reared in a given time is probably considerably 
greater, owing to the fact that none of the colonies is strong beyond 
the capacity of the queen, the workers of the entire apiary being so 
distributed that all the queens are utilized to the best possible advan- 
tage. (5) When the honey flow begins the colonies are ready for 
the supers without additional manipulation, such as removing extra 
brood chambers, sorting combs of brood, etc. In equalizing colonies 
combs of hatching brood with the adhering workers, without the queen, 
are usually drawn from the strongest colonies and given to colonies 
less strong, but never to very weak colonies. The weakest colonies 
are left until the last, then built up quickly, provided there is time 
enough to have all the hives well filled with brood. If this is not 
possible the very weak colonies can more profitably be used for pur- 
poses other than comb-honey production. Another plan of equaliz- 
ing is that of shaking bees from combs taken from strong colonies at 
the entrance of colonies less strong. The older bees at once take 
wing and return to their hives, while the younger bees enter the 
weaker colony. The operator must, of course, be sure that the queen 
is not on the comb thus shaken. 
Some of the advantages of building up the colonies as individuals 
are: (1) The labor required is considerably less, fewer visits being 
required, so that this method is particularly adapted to out-apiary 
conditions. (2) It is possible to determine with much greater 
accuracy which colonies show the most desirable traits for breeding 
purposes. (3) It can be more safely practiced if brood diseases are 
imminent. 
SUMMARY. 
(1) The workers that take part in storing a crop of honey from any 
given honey flow are usually those reared within the period of six or 
eight weeks just preceding the honey flow. The workers reared 
previous to this period are too old to be of much value as gatherers, 
while those reared after this period mature after the flow has ceased. 
(2) It is necessary that the beekeeper know what plants are likely 
to furnish the surplus honey and their approximate period of bloom, 
so that he can determine the limits of the heavy brood-rearing period 
in order to secure the largest possible working force for the honey 
flow. 
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