430 HONEY PRODUCTION. 



"Native perfumes, and whispers whence they stole 

 Those balmy spoils."* 



By the time the feeble colony becomes strong— if at all — 

 the honey harvest is over, and, instead of gathering enough 

 for its own use, it may starve, unless fed. Bee-keeping, with 

 colonies which are feeble, except in extraordinary seasons and 

 locations, is emphatically nothing but "vexation of spirit." 



3rd. Colonies that swarm cannot be expected to furnish 

 much surplus, in average localities and seasons. 



4th. A hive containing or raising many drones (189) 

 cannot save as much surplus as one that has but few, owing 

 to the cost of production of these drones, who do not work 

 and are raised in place of workers. We have insisted on 

 this point already, but it is of such importance, that we 

 cannot refrain from recalling it. The hives should be over- 

 hauled every Spring, 'and the drone comb cut out and re- 

 placed by neat pieces of worker comb, or of comb foundation 

 (674). Every square foot of drone comb, replaced with 

 worker comb, represents an annual saving, in our estimation, 

 of at least one dollar to the colony. 



Comb Honey. 



yiO. Although more extracted honey can be produced 

 than comb honey, from the same number of colonies, yet a 

 newly made and well sealed comb of honey is unquestionably 

 most attractive, and, when nicely put up, will find a place 

 of honor, even on the tables of the wealthy. "White comb 

 honey will always be a fancy article, and will sell at paying 

 prices. 



Dark honey in the comb does not usually find ready sale. 

 Hence, the bee-keepers, in districts where white honey is har- 



• The scent ol the hives, during the. height of the gathering season, 

 usually indicates from what sources the bees have gathered their sup- 

 plies. 



