266 THK BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



attempt to force her way through the guards, and finding 

 here the nibblings and parings of comb and bee-bread, in 

 which her young can flourish, she deposits her eggs in a 

 place where they may be reached and destroyed. All this 

 is on the supposition that the hive has a healthy queen, and 

 that the bees are confined to a space which they can warm 

 and defend. If there are no guards and no resistance, or at 

 best but a very feeble one, she will not rest in any outer 

 chamber, but will penetrate to the very heart of the citadel, 

 and there deposit her seeds of mischief. These same 

 blocks have also grooves which communicate with the inte- 

 rior of the hives, and which appear to the prowling worm 

 in search of a comfortable nest, just the very best possible 

 place, so warm and snug and secure, in which to spin its 

 web, and " bide its time." When the hand of the bee- 

 master lights upon it, doubtless it has reason to feel that it 

 has been caught in its own craftiness. 



If asked how much will such contrivances help the careless 

 bee-man, I answer, not one iota ; nay, they will positively 

 furnish him greater facilities for destroying his bees. Worms 

 will spin and hatch, and moths will lay their eggs, under the 

 blocks, and he will never remove them : thus instead of traps 

 he will have most beautiful devices for giving more effectual 

 aid and comfort to his enemies. Such persons, if they ever 

 attempt to keep bees on my plans, should use only my 

 smooth blocks, which will enable them to control, at will, 

 the size of the entrance to the hives, and which are exceed- 

 ingly important in aiding the bees to defend themselves 

 against moths and robbers, and all enemies which seek ad- 

 mission to their castle. 



Let me, however, strongly advise the thoroughly and 

 incorrigibly careless, to have nothing to do with bees, either 

 on my plan of management, or any other ; for they will 



