44 BOXES FOR SURPLUS HONEY. 
Honey in these boxes is very attractive, and is sought 
for in the market by customers who have purchased in 
this form. Honey put up in these nice boxes shows its 
superior quality at a glance, and customers prefer to 
purchase in such boxes with no tare deducted for weight 
of box, to purchasing in the ordinary wood box with the 
weight of the box deducted. 
In taking these boxes from the hive,* when filled with 
honey, in warm weather I recommend the following 
method: Take the boxes off early in the morning, and 
carry them to some outbuilding, and put them in a clean, 
tight box or barrel; place the boxes in such a manner 
that the openings in the boxes will be free for the pas- 
sage of the bees from them. Spread over the box or 
barrel, a thin piece of cloth. The bees will leave the 
‘boxes and collect on the under side of the cloth, which 
must be turned every few minutes, until all are out, 
except a few drones and very young bees; these can be 
taken out with a pencil. To facilitate the removal of the 
bees from the boxes, if any are obstinate about leaving, 
*When the box frames or partitions are taken out in the honey season, the 
bees will often, if the stock is strong, spread out over the bottom, so that in 
putting the frame in, a large number will get crushed. To prevent this, get 
out two pieces of wood, each about one and one-half inches wide, and one- 
fourth inch thick, one eighteen inches long the other twenty-two inches 
long; one edge of the long piece bevel to a thin edge, about the shape of a 
carperter’s chisel. Nail the long piece in the center to the end of the short 
piece at right angles with it, with the beveled edge down, so the beveled edge 
will be level with the end of the short piece; also bevel the lower end of the 
short piece. When the bees are spread over the bottom of the box section, 
with this instrument push them gently back to the brood section, To do this 
thrust the instrument down into the box section with the beveled edge down; 
taking hold of the end of the short piece or handle, work the bees gently back to 
