430 , HONEY PRODUCTION. 



''Xative perfumes, and whispers whence they stole 

 Those balmy spoils."* 



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

 the honey hai"\est is over, and, instead of gathering enough 

 for its own use, it may star\-e, unless fed. Bee-keeping, with 

 colonies which are feeble, except in extraordinary seasons and 

 locations, is emphatically notliuig but "vexation of spirit." 



3rd. Colonies that swarm cannot be expected to furnish 

 much surplus, in average localities and seas(.)ns. 



4t]i. A hive containing or raismg many drones (1S9) 

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

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

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

 this point alreadjj, 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 liy neat pieces of worker cumb, or of comb foundation 

 (671). 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. 



C'OMB Honey. 



719. 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 readj' sale. 

 Hence, the bee-kee])ers, in districts where white honey is har- 



* The sceut of the hives, during the height of the gathering season, 

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

 plies. 



