HYMENOPTERA. 



353 



have been recommended for hives, concludes thus : " It is to satisfy 

 all these requirements that experienced bee-keepers so much recom- 

 mend for the hives an exposure to the ten o'clock sun ; that is to say, 

 that they should be turned in such a manner that the sun may shine 

 on their entrances when it has already attained a certain height above 

 the horizon, and sufficiently warmed the surrounding air for the bees, 

 which the brightness of its rays has tempted forth, not to be seized 



with cold and numbed before they have been able to return home 

 again."* 



In the month of March a gathering of wax is made by cutting 

 away the lower part of the hives, where the cakes have grown old. 

 The principal honey harvest takes place towards the end of May, 

 June, or July, according to the place the hives are in. A larger or 

 smaller gathering takes place according to the quantity of honey 

 ready, and the state of the season. As the bees will not see the 

 violation of their domicile and theft of their winter provisions without 

 anger, to get possession of the honeycomb with which the hive is 

 filled, you must put these irritable insects into such a state that they 

 are unable to injure you. They can be rendered peaceable by 



* " Physiologic de 1' Abeille, suivie de 1'art de soigner et d' exploiter les Abeilles 

 d'apres une methode simple et facile," p. 94. Paris, i66. 



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