194 
AUTUMN MANAGEMENT. 
Our apportioning of the seasons is certainly not very 
scientific, for part of what has been said in the 
preceding chapter belongs more strictly to the spring, 
and much of what now follows refers rather to the 
later periods of the summer. The month of August is 
usually associated with the collection of harvest. 
Though this may often hold good as regards honey, 
yet the storified or doubled stocks of the spring are 
commonly ready for deprivation at an earlier period, 
occasionally in May, and so on throughout July; 
the spring-gathered honey being usually to be 
preferred in point of quality. I know of no better 
rule as to the fitness of a super, or of a side hive, for 
removal, than an observation of the state of the 
combs and cells, which ought to be completely filled 
and sealed over, to prevent a loss of honey by 
running out. In this stage the sooner it is 
appropriated the better, as a longer continuance 
only leads to discoloration. As respects a colony of 
the same year, Dr. Bevan remarks, “As a general 
rule, no honey should be taken from a colony the 
first season of its being planted, though there may 
be an extraordinary season now and then which 
may justify a departure from this rule:” the pro- 
duce in such a case is usually denominated virgin 
honey, though that term is often applied indis- 
criminately to any honey in combs free from brood. 
But in any event the stock-hive should be first 
examined, for there is a strong disposition in bees 
