122 STORIFYING AND SINGLE-HIVING. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF STORI- 

 FYING AND SINGLE-HIVING. 



FROM what has been said in the two last chapters, 

 a comparative estimate may be made of the ad- 

 vantages which storifying possesses over single- 

 hiving ; and they appear to be the following. 



First, an oeconomical division of labour, an ad- 

 vantage common to all bodies of artificers, whose 

 works are conducted upon a large scale, and 

 which causes a larger quantity of wax and honey 

 to be collected in the season, than if the bees 

 were to swarm, and to carry on their operations 

 in separate families. 



Secondly, the facility with which the bees may 

 be deprived of a considerable portion of their 

 honey, without destroying their lives, or commu- 

 nicating to the honey any unpleasant flavour, 

 from the sulphurous gas. 



Thirdly, the power which is afforded to the 

 bees, of employing themselves usefully during 

 wet weather, in the manner before stated. 



Fourthly, the saving of that time which is un- 

 necessarily spent in the construction of fresh 

 combs, in the new habitation. 



Fifthly, the saving of room ; for as every family 



