138 HIVES. 



thirteen by fourteen inches square and twelve inches 

 high, all inside measure. 



A large, first swarm was hived within in the month 

 of June, being well provided with wax as well as 

 abundance of pasturage ; the bees forming a cluster 

 extending over the whole top of the hive (but with- 

 out guides to direct the course of their combs) com- 

 menced at the same time to build combs in two places, 

 which we will suppose Y and Z. 



As the queen was unquestionably in that portion 

 of the cluster commencing to build at Y, the bees 

 constructed a number of the first combs of worker 

 cells ; while at Z, store combs only were built. All 

 combs marked A represent worker cell, B drone cell, 

 and C and D store combs, part of the latter being 

 worker and part drone, but having the cells length- 

 ened and considerably curved upwards. The combs 

 being started in two places* and at nearly right 

 angles, with less than one-half of them suitable for 

 rearing brood, they never increase sufficiently in 

 numbers to enable them to swarm, neither will they 

 be likely to fill surplus honey boxes. Such a hive, 

 if left to remain, will frequently live for years with- 

 out affording its owner any profit. 



The remedy in such case is either to transfer the 

 bees and suitable combs to new hives, or prune out 

 the objectionable combs. 



* Combs are frequently built in different divisions, and if the 

 combs in each are parallel one with the other and mostly worker 

 cells, there is but little difference in their prosperity. In cold cli- 

 mates such hives generally winter the best. 



