and its Economic Management. 105 



about which there is the slightest doubt as to them coming 

 through all right. The reader will ask : " How are those 

 others constituted about which there can be any -doubt, other 

 than really weak stocks ? " In the first place I should say 

 those which have old, or otherwise unsatisfactory queens; 

 those which through any oversight may have been without a 

 laying queen for a few weeks during the latter part of the 

 summer ; as well as those which may be short of stores. It 

 will be found impossible to alternate the combs with ten or 

 eleven-frame hives where they are populous, and in that case 

 place the whole hive upon another* near to it ; or if a little too 

 far apart, bring'each hive half-way ; and in all cases of uniting, 

 place a wide board from the ground to the flight board, not 

 only to attract the flying bees, but also that both lots may be 

 aware of a strange location,, and so have no inclination to 

 fight. (Refer to Uniting.) 



What is a Strong Stock? 



Will be a frequent question. Can I explain the situation 

 fully ? I will endeavor to do so for the benefit of the many 

 who never seem to realise that ' Unity is. strength,' and that 

 nothing less than the most intense power, as exhibited in the 

 almost hurricane strength of profitable colonies, will ever 

 bring them a reliable income year after year. 



You want for the production of honey just that strength of 

 numbers which turns the ordinarily gentle workers into ever 

 suspicious defenders of their home, ready to assail, if need be, 

 any intruder who disturbs them without due precautions ! 

 You want during the summer that teeming hive which all day 

 long shows you such a continuous stream going and coming, 

 that the tiny insects appear almost thicker than hailstones ! 

 You want, after the removal of the surplus receptacles, a hive 

 of ten or twelve frames so over-crowded that great lumps of 

 clustering bees hang outside until really cold nights compel 

 them to crowd inside ! 



