173 BOXING ANB SUEPLUS HONEY. 



old and new swarms scarcely stored enougli honey for 

 winter. In my own apiary I prevented all swarming, and 

 m some cases, used cards of brood from one swarm to 

 build up others. This was simply making one aid in fit- 

 ting the other to gather surplus, that could not be other- 

 wise secured during such an unfavorable period. The 

 thoughtful bee-keeper may often turn such meager yields 

 to profitable account by skilful and judicious manage- 

 ment. If, by a little forethought and study, even one- 

 half the usual amount be secured, the demand is increased 

 by the scarcity, and the price is proportionally better, so 

 that the income will not be so much reduced as may be 

 supposed. It might be well indeed to diminish the num- 

 ber of colonies in such emergencies, by uniting, and thus 

 increase the working capacity of a less number to marked 

 advantage. 



CHAPTER X. 

 BOXING AND SURPLUS HONEY. 



PUTTING ON BOXES. 



There is no operation connected with the care of bees 

 that requires more experience and careful observation, 

 than that of putting on and taking off boxes; for, to de- 

 cide upon the precise time when boxes are needed, in- 

 volves a nicety of judgment which long experience only 

 can give. The proper date for supplying boxes will vary 

 with the climate, strength of colonies, and yield of honey. 

 While yet inexperienced I made aferious mistakes in plac- 

 ing boxes upon my hives too early in the season. In this 

 immediate section, the time when boxes will usually be 

 needed upon the best swarms, occurs soon after raspberry 

 and ftlover begin to bloom. If, before the opening of the 



