186 THE HOKET EXTEACTOB AWD ITS USE. 



winter to remain sealed, and to be kept over until an- 

 other winter ; thorough extracting will avoid this. 

 Brood-rearing is stimulated by extracting the brood- 

 combs. Such combs in the brood-nest as are designed 

 for winter stores, should not be extracted too late in the 

 season, as late-gathered honey is not usually so desirable 

 for winter consumption. In changing hives, as here- 

 after directed, and extracting all the combs, a marked ad- 

 vantage will be derived in the expulsion and destruction 

 of every moth-worm. In uncapping honey in brood- 

 combs, use care not to disturb the cells containing brood. 

 A little caution is all that is necessary, as the honey-cells 

 are usually lengthened out more than the brood-cells. 



After the combs are all extracted they should be arrang- 

 ed in the hive in the same order as before. If still more 

 hives are to be extracted, this hive may be used, in the 

 process of changing, as above alluded to. Eemove the 

 next hive to be operated with, put No. 1 in its place, 

 and shake all the bees before it, when they will enter, and 

 work with even more energy than before the operation. 

 Extract the combs from this, and proceed to the next in 

 the same manner. When the round is completed, place 

 the last hive and its contents upon the stand of ISTo. 1, 

 now occupied by an empty hive and bees, shake the bees 

 into it, and release the queen. 



In extracting, I notice the condition of each colony. 

 If the first one is populous, containing a large amount of 

 brood, I select for the second, one that has less bees, as 

 in this way the brood furnished them, will place them in 

 better condition. The next swarm selected, should be 

 more populous, and so on. This equalization benefits all, 

 giving the weaker ones more working force, and the 

 better ones more room for stores. When the general 

 harvest begins, I prefer that all the honey then in the hive 

 be extracted and kept by itself, thus preventing all mixing 

 of light and dark honey. A little care in observing the 



