122 WAX. 



cannot see how our surplus honey can be less, as in 

 this case there would be more bees at, all iimes than 

 in a hive that had been reduced by swarming. 



Does experience substantiate the theory that stocks 

 with crooked combs are as profitable as when they 

 are straight ? "When combs are built expressly for 

 breeding, I could never discover any difference. Any 

 person can easily test it by a little observation ; not 

 by taking a solitary instance of only one hive, be- 

 cause some other cause might produce the result. 

 Take a half-dozen at least with straight combs, and 

 as many with them crooked ; have them all alike in 

 other respects, and carefully watch the result. I think 

 you will have but little interest which way the combs 

 are made, providing iliey are made, as far as profit is 

 concerned. It is true, it would gratify order to have 

 them all straight, and if it was not attended with more 

 trouble than the result would pay for, it would be 

 well to have them so. 



In ordinary circumstances, when a swarm is first 

 hived, they set about comb-making immediately ; yet 

 sometimes they will remain two days, and not make a 

 particle. I have known them to swarm out and cluster 

 in the usual way, and when rehived, commence at once. 

 This seems to prove that they can retain the wax, or 

 prevent secreting it, tUl wanted. This seldom occurs. 



tTNCEETAINTr IK WEIGHT OF BEES. 



A large swarm will probably carry with them some 

 five 07 six pounds of honey from the parent stock, 

 I onlj guess at this, because I am uncertain what the 



