STOCK-HIVES. 131 



swarm can nearly fill its hive -with combs and store up 

 26 lb. of food. 



When the bees creep together by reason of cold weather 

 the ekes may be taken from them ; and if some combs 

 have been built down into the ekes, they should be 

 shortened or pared to fit. 



These sugar-fed stocks are generally very prosperous 

 ones in the following year, their combs being young and 

 containing scarcely any bee-bread. Almost every cell 

 yields brood in spring. But it should be understood that 

 combs made from sugar are more brittle and easily broke n 

 than combs made from honey gathered in the fields . We 

 have frequently known every hive in an apiary put down 

 for honey, and all the stocks made as now described. We 

 think it was in 1864 when a cousin of ours realised .£40 

 profit from nine stocks. He found all his hives too 

 heavy for keeping, hence he took aU the honey, and 

 formed his stocks by feeding. 



In a year or two after, we found him forming stocks in 

 the same way. He had his hives placed over holes or 

 pits in the ground about a foot square, and the syrup in 

 dishes at the bottom of these pits. The hives were well 

 covered ; and in this novel and rustic way he succeeded 

 in furnishing his apiary with hives of surpassing worth 

 and strength. 



