172 BOXING AND SURPLUS HONEY. 
old and new swarms scarcely stored enough honey for 
winter. In my own apiary I prevented all swarming, and 
in some cases, used cards of brood from one swarm to 
build up others. This was simply making one aid in fit- 
ting the other to gather surplus, that could not be other- 
wise secured during such an unfavorable period. The 
thoughtful bee-keeper may often turn such meager yields 
to profitable account by skilful and judicious manage- 
ment. If, by a little forethought and study, even one- 
half the usual amount be secured, the demand is increased 
by the scarcity, and the price is proportionally better, so 
that the income will not be so much reduced as may be 
supposed. It might be well indeed to diminish the num- 
ber of colonies in such emergencies, by uniting, and thus 
increase the working capacity of a less number to marked 
advantage. 
CHAPTER X. 
BOXING AND SURPLUS HONEY. 
PUTTING ON BOXES. 
There is no operation connected with the care of bees 
that requires more experience and careful observation, 
than that of putting on and taking off boxes; for, to de- 
cide upon the precise time when boxes are needed, in- 
volves a nicety of judgment which long experience only 
can give. The proper date for supplying boxes will vary 
with the climate, strength of colonies, and yield of honey. 
While yet inexperienced I made serious mistakes in plac- 
ing boxes upon my hives too early in the season. In this 
immediate section, the time when boxes will usually be 
needed upon the best swarms, occurs soon after raspberry | 
and clover begin to bloom. If, before the opening of the 
