LOSS OF THE QUEEN. 285 



Early in the month of September, I examine carefully all 

 my hives, so as to see that in every respect, they are in suita- 

 ble condition for wintering. If any need feeding, (See Chap- 

 ter on Feeding,) they are fed at this time. If any have more 

 vacant room than they ought to have, I partition off that part 

 of the hive which they do not need. I always expect to find 

 some i)rood in every healthy hive at this time, and if in any 

 hive I find none, and ascertain that it is queenless, I either at 

 once break it up, or if it is strong in numbers supply it vi'ith 

 a queen, by adding to it some feebler stock. If bees, how- 

 ever, are properly attended to, at the season when their 

 young queens are impregnated, it will be a very rare occur- 

 rence to find a queenless colony in the Fall. 



The practical bee-keeper without further directions, will 

 readily perceive how any operation, which in the common 

 hives, is performed with difficulty, if it can be performed at 

 all, is reduced to simplicity and certainty, by the control of 

 the combs. If however, bee-keepers will be negligent and 

 ignorant, no hive can possible make them very successful. 

 If they belong to the fraternity of " no eyes," who have 

 kept bees all their lives, and do not know that there is a 

 queen, they will probably derive no special pleasure from 

 being compelled to believe what they have always derided 

 as humbug or book-knowledge ; although I have seen some 

 bee-keepers very intelligent on most matters, who never 

 seem to have learned the first rudiments in the natural his- 

 tory of the bee. Those who cannot, or will not learn for 

 themselves, or who have not the leisure or disposition to 

 manage iheir own bees, may yet with my hives, entrust 

 their care to suitable persons who may, at the proper time, 

 attend to all their wants. Practical gardeners may find the 

 management of bees for their employers, to be quite a lu- 

 crative part of their profession. "With but little extra labor 



