HOW TO KEEP BEES FOR PROFIT 



the bees, who clustered upon it as a token of 

 their esteem for their departed keeper. The 

 truth was, the bees were securing some of 

 the fresh varnish with which the coffin was 

 polished, and were perfectly oblivious of the 

 fact that their owner had left them. A super- 

 stitious custom is still practised in some parts of 

 Europe on the death of a beekeeper of drap- 

 ing the hives with black ; a relative of the dead 

 man then whispers into the entrance of each 

 hive the sad intelligence that their owner is 

 no more. It is believed by many such people 

 that if this is not done the bees will leave the 

 hives and will not return. 



As we examine the combs in the home of 

 the bees, we shall find some of the cells contain- 

 ing honey, others pollen, while nestling in 

 still others we find the developing brood. In 

 taking care of the brood as well as maintain- 

 ing themselves, the bees require water, pollen, 

 and honey; thus we find it present in their 

 homes at all times. 



Honey is not a product of the bees in that 

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