PRUNING. 263 



several; others prefer April, August, or September. 

 Here, as usual, I sliall have to differ from them all, 

 preferring still another period,, for which I offer my 

 reasons, supposing, of course, that the reader is con- 

 scious of a freeman's privilege, that is, to adopt what- 

 ever method he thinks proper, on this, as on any other 

 point. 



ANOTHER TIME PREFERRED. 



There is but one period from February till October, 

 when prosperous stocks are free from young brood in 

 the combs. If combs are taken* out wTien occupied, 

 there must be a loss of all the young bees they con- 

 tain ; which may be avoided. The old queen leaves 

 with the first swarm ; all the eggs she leaves in the 

 worker-cells will be matured in about twenty-one 

 days, consequently this is the time to clear out the 

 old combs with the least waste. A few drones will be 

 found in the cells, that would require a few days more 

 to hatch, but these are of no account. Also a few 

 very young larvae and some eggs may be sometimes 

 found, the product of the young queen ; these few 

 must be wasted, but as the bees have expended no 

 labor upon them as yet,, it is better to sacrifice these 

 than the greater number left by her mother, which 

 have consumed their portion of food,; the bees have 

 sealed them up, and now only require the necessary 

 time to mature, to make a valuable addition to the 

 stock. 



SHOULD NOT BE DELAyyD. 



Should this operation, be put off for a time much 



