454 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



to their daily task. The bottom of the hive is laid round with clean moss, 

 and it is the duty of the bee-keeper to keep everything in perfect order, and 

 prepare new hives for the young swarms thrown off in the summer. 



1357. When the honey-harvest arrives, a new hive is provided for the colony 

 of bees ; and some evening, when all the bees are at home, the new hives 

 being smeared with honey, the bottoms of both are opened, and joined 

 together, so that not a bee can escape. Smoke is now introduced at the top 

 of the old hive, which drives the bees out, and they are secured in the new 

 one, which is placed in its standing-place. 



1358. The honeycombs extracted from these store-hives are of two qualities : 

 the honey from the early summer flowers is of a hght colour, while that from 

 autumn flowers is of a darker hue. The combs containing the latter are 

 drained into separate vessels, and its produce is considered the richest in 

 quality, and commands a higher price, while the wax is prepared by bleaching, 

 and formed into the candles so much in request in all Eoman Catholic 

 countries. 



1359. A convenient bee-feeder has been invented by Messrs. Neighbour 

 and Sons, of which we append a figure. The bottle is filled with 

 the liquid food, the net fixed over the mouth with the India-rubber 

 band ; place the block over the hole of the stock-hive, the bottle 

 inverted, the neck resting within the hole of the block. The bees 

 put their proboscis through the perforations and imbibe the food, 

 the bottle acting on the principle of a fountain. Being glass, it is 



easy to see when the food is consumed. 



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