FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 119 



great deal of writing done, as will be readily understood 

 when it is remembered that only one page is allotted to 

 three colonies, allowing only 22 square inches for each. 

 It is seldom that a colony requires more than its allotted 

 space in the season, hardly half the space being used 

 on the average. There is a great deal of monotony about 

 the entries, and there are a few words which are so fre- 

 quently used that abbreviations aid much in saving room 

 and time for making the entries. Some abbreviations 

 that are constantly used are as follows : b for bees, br for 

 brood, c or qc for queen-cell, g for gave, k for killed or 

 destroyed (kc means I destroyed the queen-cells), q for 

 queen, s for saw, but sc means sealed queen-cell, t for 

 took, V for virgin queen, Q for super. 



PLACE FOR PENCIL. 



To make sure of having a pencil always handy to 

 make entries, it is tied to the book, as also is a pair of scis- 

 sors for clipping queens unless the latter is replaced by a 

 pair of pocket scissors. A strong string is put in the 

 middle of the book, passed around the back and tied, and 

 to this is tied a long string that holds the pencil, and an- 

 other for the scissors. To prevent the scissors hanging 

 open with its two shaps points, a common rubber band 

 is so fastened on the handles as to hold them together. 

 \Vhile the band holds the scissors together when not in 

 use, its elasticity allows their free use when needed. 



KILLING GRASS. 



This is a good time to salt the ground at and about 

 the entrances of the hives, to kill the grass, although too 

 often I leave it till it has to be cut with a sickle. Grass 

 growing in front of the hive annoys the bees, and that 

 growing at the side annoys the operator, especially if the 

 operator is of the female persuasion, and the grass is wet 

 with dew or rain. 



