AETIFIOIAL SWARMING. 231 



combs with maturing bees, may be taken from the upper 

 one, and when the hive below is full, they may all be safely 

 removed. If none of the upper combs are removed, they 

 will be filled with honey, as soon as the brood is hatched ; 

 and as they will contain large stores of bee-bread, they will 

 answer admirably for replenishing stocks which have an in- 

 sufficient supply. In no other way, so far as I know, caa 

 so much honey be secured, and if quantity, not quality, is 

 aimed at, or if the test of quality is its fitness for the use of 

 the bees, I would recommend this mode as superior to any 

 other. If two swarms are hived together, or a very power- 

 ful stock is lodged in a hive, so that at once they can have 

 access to the upper apartment, an extraordinary quantity of 

 honey can be secured, and of a very excellent quality. As 

 soon as the bees have raised one generation of young, in the 

 combs of the upper box, or rather in a part of them, they 

 will use it chiefly for storing honey, and all that it contains 

 may be taken from them. In flavor, it will be found to be 

 nearly as good as honey stored in what is called " virgin 

 comb." 



In the Chapter on the Eequisites of a good hive, I have 

 said that in size it should be adapted to the natural instincts 

 of the bee, and yet admit of enlarging or contracting, ac- 

 cording to the wants of the colony placed in it. I never 

 use a hive, the main apartment of which, holds less than a 

 Winchester bushel. If small colonies are placed in such a 

 hive, it must be temporarily partitioned off", to suit the size 

 of its inmates ; for if bees have too much room given to 

 them, they cannot concentrate their animal heat, and are so 

 much discouraged that they often abandon their hive. I am 

 aware that many judicious Apiarians recommend hives of 

 much smaller dimensions, and I shall now give my reasons 

 for using one so large. If a hive is too small, then in the 



