THE HOME OF THE BEES 



removed a swarm of bees from a bird box, 

 where the bees had driven the birds from their 

 homes and taken complete possession. 



Whether a swarm finds its home in a modern 

 hive or in the heart of an old tree, the first 

 thing they proceed to do is to remove all 

 trash and render it scrupulously clean, for 

 they are the most cleanly little creatures in 

 existence. Again and again have I seen bee 

 trees where the process of decay had already 

 begun, but no sooner had a swarm of bees 

 taken possession than they at once removed 

 all decayed wood, and so completely var- 

 nished its interior with propolis, or bee-glue, 

 that future decay was impossible. 



We are, however, more interested in the 

 modern home, or hive, of the bee. Lifting 

 its lid and glancing within, we find a set of 

 eight or ten frames of comb, according to the 

 size of the hive. We say "frames" of combs, 

 for no up-to-date beekeeper would think of 

 throwing a swarm of bees into an empty hive 

 and permitting them to build their combs in 



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