114 STORIFYING. 



limit, all the bees must remain idle till the return 

 of fine weather ; whereas if more room be given, 

 as upon the storifying plan, they will, by embra- 

 cing every opportunity for collecting, and by con- 

 structing fresh combs by means of the stores al- 

 ready collected, be enabled to diminish that check 

 to their activity, which wet weather always oc- 

 casions. Though rainy weather has this effect upon 

 the bees, yet are they much less susceptible to 

 moisture than to cold : they may frequently be 

 seen in full activity upon a warm showery day, 

 whereas on a cold dry one, they cluster closely 

 together within the hives. The colder the weather 

 the more closely they cluster. " When the lime- 

 tree and black grain blossom," says Huber> " they 

 brave the rain, they depart before sun-rise, and 

 return later than ordinary." 



Independently of the benefit derived from stori- 

 fying, as congregating a numerous body of bees 

 together, it will always be found advantageous to 

 have hives of whatever sort well filled, as the bees 

 uniformly work best when in a numerous body : 

 this has induced Mr. Espinasse and others strongly 

 to recommend the union of stocks that do not 

 well fill the hives, 



