AUTUMN MANAGEMENT. 225 
to the usual characteristics of vigour, such families 
are to be preferred as exhibit a certain degree of 
irascibility, for this is often most observable where 
there is most to defend. 
In selecting the future domicile of the family 
augmented by the uniting process, it will be well to 
take care that the hive is not one of long standing, 
in which the combs have become thickened by age. 
Indeed, a colony of the same year is to be 
preferred, and more particularly where the queen is 
a young one. If, however, it is desired to cut out 
the old combs from the intended future stock-hive, 
this can now be done with safety; first turning on 
to the board as many of the bees as you can. A 
supply of food will invigorate the new community, 
and the vacancies will be filled up with fresh combs, 
provided the operation has not been delayed too 
late in the season. 
It is of great importance here to observe, that 
after making autumnal unions, in cases where the 
bees have been expelled from hives possessing fresh 
combs, the latter ought to be left undisturbed, as so 
much gain to a future spring swarm, which will 
gladly accept a house ready furnished; moreover, a 
vast saving of honey results, for the fabrication of 
comb, as we have shown at page 176, consumes a 
great deal of this. The same remark applies to 
supers partly filled with combs; but they should be 
kept clean and dry. It is worthy of remark, that 
some authorities maintain the opinion that bees will 
now and then re-work portions of old combs, 
but these must be free from impurity. 
