264 SUMMEK. 



longer than three weeks, the young queen will so fill 

 the combs again as to make it a serious loss. There- 

 fore, I wish to urge strongly attention to this pdint 

 at the proper season. If you think it unimportant to 

 mark the date of your first swarms for the purposes 

 mentioned in another place, it will be found very con- 

 venient here, for those that need pruning. 



It is also recommended by some, to take only a 

 part, say one-third or half, in a season ; thereby taking ' 

 two or three years to renew the combs. This is ad- 

 visable only when the family is very small. As this 

 space made by pruning cannot be filled without wax 

 and labor, our surplus honey will be proportionate to 

 its extent. Now suppose we take out half the old. 

 combs, ■ and get half a yield of box honey this year, 

 and the same next, or make a full operation of it and 

 get none this year, and a full one next. What is 

 the difference ? There is none in point of honey, but 

 some in trouble, and that is in favor of a full opera-, 

 tion at once. "We have to go through with about the 

 same trouble to get one-third or half as to take the- 

 whole. 



OBJECTION TO PRUNING. 



The objection to this mode of renewing comba 

 generally, will be the fear of getting stung. But I 

 can assure you there is but little danger, not as much 

 as to walk among the hives in a warm day. Only, 

 begin right, use the smoke, and work carefully, with- 

 out pinching them, and you will escape unhurt gen- 

 erally. 



