290 THE HIVE AND HONEiT-B&E. 



No metallic slides are needed for removing surplus 

 honey-boxes. By blowing smoke into them, before they 

 are taken off, most of the bees will retreat to the main 

 hive, and, if removed early in the morning, or late in the 

 afternoon, and placed on a sheet fastened to the hive, the 

 bees, attracted by the hum of their companions, will 

 speedily leave them, but not until they have swallowed 

 all that they can hold. When gorged, they are very 

 reluctant to fly, and this is the reason they are so long in 

 leaving when boxes are carried from the hive. The 

 sooner the bees are driven from them the better, and care 

 must be taken to protect them from robbers, who would 

 soon carry their contents to their own hives. If any of the 

 frames contain brood, they may be returned to the bees. 

 Should the queen be in the box, many bees will refuse to 

 leave it until she is returned to the hive. 



(3rd.) Glass vessels, of almost any size or form, make 

 beautiful receptacles for the spare honey; they should 

 have a piece of comb fastened in them, and should be 

 covered with something warm if the weather is cool.* 



(4th.) If small boxes are used for surplus honey, the one 

 shown in Plate X., Fig. 24, the dimensions of Avhich are 

 given in the Explanation of Hives, will probably be found 

 the simplest, cheapest, and best.f 



To remove surplus honey stored in small receptacles, 



* Honey, stored in tumblers just large enough to receive one comb, may be 

 placed in an elegant form upon the table. While all small receptacles waste the 

 time of the bees, the shallow cells, so many of which must be made in any cylin- 

 drical vessel, require as large a consumption of time and materials for their covers 

 and bottoms as those which hold more than twice as much honey. 



t Such a bos, which should be furnished either with guides or pieces of comb, 

 will hold three store-combs, weighing together over four pounds, and, by removing 

 a glass, one may be cut out without disturbing the others. 



If all the joints of a box are made air-tight by a melted mixture of wax and resin, 

 the bees will be saved much labor in stopping them with propolis ; and, when the 

 entrance is closed and covered with the same mixture, the honey may be trans- 

 ported without leakage, even if the combs are broken. Boxes containing honey 

 should be very carefully packed, and lifted without the slightest jarring. 



