274 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



on the adjoining hive. When all is properly adjusted, the long 

 end of the lever is raised, and the weight is read, and then taken 

 down, so that a comb or combs may be added to bring up to the 

 desired weight. If no precaution is taken, the spring balance, 

 when first raised, will slide on the lever down against one's 

 hands or shoulders. To prevent this a stout string has one end 

 tied to the short end of the lever, and the other end tied to the 

 ring of the balance, so as to keep it within bounds. When once 



Fig. 102. — Twelve-section Shipping-case. 



adjusted, rope, balance, and lever are left fastened together, the 

 rope being slipped on each end of the hive for weighing, and 

 slipped off when the hive is weighed. 



RESERVE COilBS OF HONEY. 



After all I have said about feeding, I am happy to say that 

 since about the time of the coming in of the 20th century very 

 little feeding has been done. Most years not a feeder is put on. 

 This is partly due to the increase of fall pasturage, and perhaps 

 ill some degree to the fact that the present stock of bees are 

 more provident than they were some years ago. 



