FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



171 



sure but it ought, but I must confess I have had no strong 

 proof of it come directly under my own observation. So 

 far as I could tell, these bees seemed to work just as 

 hard when their queen was taken away as before. In the 

 spring of 1885 one colony was, by some means, left en- 

 tirely away from the proper rows — some three rods from 

 any other colony. I took it away, put it in proper line, and 



'j§^H 





."^•■^-'^' 



P^S- 54 — Three Asters. 



left to catch the returning stragglers a hive containing one 

 comb, this comb having no brood and very little if any 

 honey. This colony having been a very weak one, very 

 few bees returned to the old spot, but these few surprised 

 me by filling a good stock of honey in empty comb, before 

 they were put with the rest of the colony. 



Swarms treated on this "puting up" plan often 

 swarmed again, but if they did they were put up again. 



