108 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



but when we wish, to drive all the bees out, we drum for 

 fifteen or twenty minutes. When there is brood in a 

 hive, the bees are loath to leave it; but as there is no 

 brood at the time of eviction, the bees are easily driven 

 out. 



It is understood that, if the spring months be unfavour- 

 able for honey-gathering, the hives will be too light for 

 yielding much honey. In such a season it is unwise to 

 have turnouts, unless it be to rid the apiary of old hives 

 and old combs. 



But looking closely into this turning-out system, the 

 reader may say, "It is not a wise and economical one ; 

 for by putting the bees into empty hives, you compel 

 them to make new combs, which cost them a great deal of 

 honey. Leave them in their own hives, and thus save the 

 consumption of honey necessary in the building of fresh 

 combs." This remark is both logical and full of common- 

 sense. No sensible man will attempt to resist its force. 

 But nevertheless it is a system which has many advan- 

 tages, some of which are already mentioned. Stock-hives 

 that swarm early become too heavy in good seasons for 

 stocks. If they yield 25s. worth of honey each, and 

 swarms (turnouts) that will become excellent stocks by 

 autumn, as they often do, we thus realise both honey and 

 good stocks from old hives after they have done swarming. 

 Another thing is this, that a few pounds of sugar, now 

 costing very little, given to turnouts, enable them to half 

 fill their hives with combs. We do not turn the bees out 

 of all our stock-hives. Our aim in this chapter has been to 

 point out the advantages and disadvantages of the system, 

 that the reader may be guided by his own judgment. 



