MANAGING BEES. 53 



rule, the combs are kept so guarded that the 

 moths are compelled to keep their distance, 

 or be stung to death before they can accom- 

 plish their purposes. 



Hives made so large as not to swarm may 

 lose their Queen, and then they will abandon 

 their habitation and emigrate into the adjoin- 

 ing hive, leaving all their stores to their own- 

 er, which, unless immediately taken care of 

 the moths will not fail to destroy. 



The moths are often complained of wlicn 

 they are not guilty. Hives are frequently aban- 

 doned by their occupants, in consequence of 

 the loss of their Queen, unnoticed by any ob- 

 server, and before any thing is known of their 

 fate, the hive is destitute of bees, and filled 

 with rnoths. 



In the sunmier of 1834, one of my neigh- 

 bors had a very large hive that never swarm- 

 ed, which lost their Queen ; and in the course 

 of a few days the bees entirely vacated their 

 tenement, and emigrated into an adjoining 

 hive, leaving the whole of their stores, which 



amounted to 215 lbs. of honev in the comb. 

 5 



