178 SUMMER. 



TIME TAKEN TO FILL A BOX. 



Two weeks is the shortest time I ever had any filled 

 and finished. This, of course, depends on the yield * 

 of honey, and size of the swarm ; three or four weeks 

 are usually taken for the purpose. I hare before said 

 that the first yield of honey nearly fails in this section,- 

 usually about the 20th of July ; there are some varia- 

 tions, later or earlier, according to the season. In 

 other places it may be much later. 



WHEN TO TAKE OFF BOXES PART FULL. 



It can be ascertained by occasionally raising the 

 cover to your glass boxes. When no more is being 

 added, all boxes that, are worth the trouble should be 

 taken off; if left longer the comb gets darker, and 

 such cells of honey as are not sealed over, (and some- 

 times the majority are such,) the bees genejally remove 

 down into the hive. 



TOBACCO SMOKE PREFERRED TO SLIDES. 



When boxes are to be taken off, if a slide of tin, 

 zinc, &c., is used to close the holes, some of the bees 

 are apt to be crushed, others will find themselves 

 minus a head, leg, or abdomen, and all of them be ir- ' 

 ritable for several days. A little tobacco smoke is 

 preferable, as it keeps all quiet. Just raise the box 

 to be taken off sufficient to puff under it some smoke, 

 and the bees will leave the vicinity of the holes in an 

 instant; the box can then be removed, and another 

 put on if necessary, without exciting their anger in 

 the least. 



