5(i FIFTY YEAKS AMONG THE BEES 



The c'ni]ily liive is now to be cleaned out, the hatchet being' 

 used for all but the rabbet, which is a separate contract. Pro- 

 jiolis is >!si'd in larue c|uaiilities in my localilv, and the trough 

 formed by the tin rabbet will, in the course of years, become 

 completely filled. 



In the matter of propolis, there is a difference in bees as 

 well as localities. The worst daubers I ever had were the so- 

 called Funics or Tunisians from the north of Africa. One colony 



Fig. IS — Hire-seat icith S! rap-hamll". 



put so mucii propolis at an u]iper entrance I hat I rolled up a 

 ball of it somewhere between the size of a hickorynut and a 

 blackwalnut. 



To clean out the rabbet, the small end of the liive-tool is 

 well ada])ted. Holding it perpendicularly, with the edg'e of the 

 tool diagunally in the trough, I play it backward and forward 

 until the trougli is emptied of propolis. SI ill better is a screw- 

 (liiver, ratlier sharp, ground to just the right width to fit easily 

 in the trough. 



'i'he empty hive is now used to lake the place of the rexl 

 hive to be overhauled, which in ils lui'n is cleaiied and then us'jd 

 fmaiii, and so on. 



