348 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



never to give the bees a box which does not contain some 

 comb, as virell for encouragement as for a pattern. I have 

 never seen the use of pasteboard boxes suggested, but after 

 experimenting with a great many materials, I. believe they 

 will be found, all things considered, preferable to any others. 

 Wooden boxes, with a piece of glass, are very good for 

 storing honey : but they are much more expensive than 

 those made of pasteboard, and the covers cannot be re- 

 moved so conveniently. 



Honey may be safely removed from the surplus honey 

 boxes of my hives, even by the most timid. When the 

 outside case which covers the boxes, is elevated, a shield is 

 thrown between the Apiarian and the bees which are enter- 

 ing and leaving the hive. Before removing a vessel or box, 

 a thin knife should be carefully passed under it, so as to 

 loosen the attachments of the comb to the honey-board, 

 without injuring the bees ; then a small piece of tin or zinc 

 may be pushed under to prevent the bees that are below, 

 from coming up, when the honey is removed. The Apia- 

 rian should now tap gently on the box, and the bees in it, 

 perceiving that they are separated from the main hive, will 

 at once proceed to fill themselves, so as to save as much as 

 possible, of their precious sweets. In about five minutes, 

 or as soon as they are full, and run over the combs, trying 

 to get out, the glass or box may at once be removed, and 

 they will fly directly to the hive with what they have been 

 able to secure. Bees undeir such circumstances, never at- 

 tempt to sting, and a child of ten years, may remove, with 

 ease and safety, all their surplus stores. If a person is too 

 timid to approach a hive when any bees are flying, the hon- 

 ey may be removed towards evening, or early in the morn- 

 ing, before the bees are flying, in any considerable numbers. 

 In performing this operation, it should always be borne in 



