THE HONEY-BEE. 235 



thin muslin spread over its mouth, and held within a 

 yard of the fire. When they recover, which they 

 will do in a few minutes, let them be taken out to the 

 apiary, and the muslin removed, and they will speedi- 

 ly regain their respective habitations. 



Once or twice during the winter, the hives ought 

 to be lifted from their stools, and carefully inspect- 

 ed ; all cobwebs swept off, the floor-board thoroughly 

 cleaned, and the outer covers or surtouts repaired 

 and adjusted, so that the rain or snow may not gain 

 admittance ; the snow, especially, as soon as fallen 

 should be cleared away. 



In the preceding chapter, when treating of taking 

 the honey, and at the same time preserving the lives 

 of the bees, we recommended the uniting of the ex- 

 pelled bees to the stock-hives, and pointed out an 

 easy method of accomplishing this union. If the 

 stock-hive be very large, two or even three expelled 

 swarms may be joined to it. In that case it will be 

 prudent to see that there is sufficient provision for so 

 many additional mouths; for nothing seems more 

 reasonable, or more consonant with experience, than 

 the conclusion, that if the population be increased, 

 the means of maintaining it must also be augmented. 

 And yet a very experienced Bee-master has averred, 

 and supports his averments by a minute detail of his 

 experiments on the subject, that it is not necessary 

 the reinforced hive should have double or treble 

 stores in order to supply the wants of its now doubled 

 or trebled population. The fact, if fact it be, is 

 rather astounding; however M. Gelieu, a Swiss 



