160 Autumn 



the conditions varying with the character of the agri- 

 culture. The bee man has a second reason for making 

 the change. Flower honey, although the most beau- 

 tiful and delicious, is not the best for the market, 

 as owing to a want of consistency in the wax it runs 

 easily and loses appearance. For that reason, bee- 

 keepers will sometimes put on an ' eke ' instead of 

 removing the ' top ' of flower honey ; an ' eke ' being 

 a narrow band of plaited straw introduced between 

 the ' top ' and the ' skep,' to enlarge the store-room of 

 the bees. If this is done, the insects, which seem 

 aware of the defect in flower-wax, will reseal the ' top ' 

 with what they get from the heather and entirely 

 change its appearance. 



The transference takes place at night. As soon 

 as darkness has driven the busy workers home their 

 egress is stopped by sheets of perforated tin, and the 

 skeps are packed in a long or harvest cart. Probably 

 there are several loads ; for the thrifty shepherd from 

 the farm, the boatman from the ferry, and half a 

 dozen other individuals from various out-of-the-way 

 cottages have joined together to make a convoy. 

 And now the procession gets under way. The two 

 boys selected for the honour of their first journey are 

 ensconced in a half-empty cart, wherein also are the 

 whisky flasks of their elders. Happy are the old 

 hands if the night is inclined to be chilly or even wet, 

 for in close weather there is a danger of the bees 



