88; THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 



days, and even weeks, before it becomes absolutely necessary. Expe- 

 rience has convinced me that the existence of vacant space in a hive 

 has a tendency to stimulate the bees' industry; however, let it be, so 

 given as not to reduce too low the temperature of the hive. Now 

 also is the_ time for the lee master to provide for the autumnal increase 

 of his apiary, should he desire it, according to the plan before suggest- 

 ed, of which, indeed, we suppose him to have made trial the year be- 

 fore. Whatever success he may have obtained then, now certainly 

 he may, (unless the season should prove extremely bad,) have four 

 boxes in the autumn, out of which to make as many artificial stocks, 

 if he can get bees enough to tenant them. A further advantage there 

 will accrue from this treatment of his stocks, namely, that by shifting 

 his boxes, in the way pointed out a few pages back, and compelling 

 the bees to pass from their hive into the open air through an empty 

 box, much anxiety will be spared him as to the possible swarming 

 away of his bees ; for if the boxes be shifted in good time, say at the 

 end of April, they will be sure not to swarm if space to work in be 

 afterwards supplied to them as fast as they want it, and the boxes are 

 well sheltered from the sun. The earlier too the hoxes are shifted, the 

 greater heat will be engendered in the stock, which being moved so 

 far away from the entrance, will be less sensitive of the changes of the 

 weather ; thus will the maturation of the brood be advanced the spee- 

 dier. Plenty of spare room over the pavilion must be opened to 

 them, as it is wanted ; for in- proportion as they have room given 

 them to store above their proper domicile, the less honey will be de- 

 posited in the ante-chamber, out of which the new colony is to be 

 made. Should the bees increase so greatly in numbers as to compel 

 them to hang outside, from the alighting board, when all the available . 

 space has been given them, a glass or box, even though not quite full, 

 must be taken away, and its place supplied by an empty one. The 

 partially-filled glass or box may be replaced later in the season, if, on 

 removing other glasses or boxes, honey seems to be collected still in 

 any quantity. His own judgment must guide the bee master in his 

 decision, as to whether he shall appropriate the contents at once or 

 reserve it as I have just suggested ; only be it borne in mind, that 

 empty comb is of little value in itself, but a great boon to the bees, 

 and a prize to their master himself in the end, if returned to him full 

 of honey. Empty comb, however, is always useful to tempt them up 



