HIVES. 81 



BEST TO USE .OLD OOMBS AS LONG AS THEY WILL ANSWER. 



their time can be more profitably employed tban: in 

 constructing brood-combs every year. I would also 

 suggest that when combs have been once used for 

 breeding it is the best use they can be applied to, after 

 that, as the cocoons render it unfit for much else than 

 a little wax. 



DRrVING AND PRUNING WHKN NECESSARY. 



But when the combs do actually need removing, I 

 prefer the following method of pruning, to driving the 

 bees out entirely, as has been recommended. It can 

 be done in about an hour. As we are comparing the ^ 

 merits of different methods of getting rid of old combs, 

 I shall give mine here, notwithstanding it may seem a 

 little out of place. 



The best time is a little before night. The first 

 movement is to blow under the hive some tobacco 

 smoke (the best means of charming them I ever found) ; 

 the bees, deprived of all disposition to sting, retreat 

 up among the combs to get away from the smoke ; now 

 raise the hive from the stand and carefully turn it 

 bottom upwards, avoiding any jar, as some of the bees 

 that were in the top when the smoke was introduced, 

 aid did not get a taste, will now come to the bottom 

 to ascertain the cause of the disturbance ; these should 

 receive a share, and they will immediately return to 

 the top, perfectly satisfied. When so many bees are 

 in the hive, as to be in the way in pruning, (which if 

 there is not it is not worth it,) get an empty hive the 

 size of the old one, and set it over, stopping the holes; 



