PEUNING. 265 



STOCKS PRUNED NOW ARE BETTER FOE TVINTER. 



Besides the advantage of saving a large brood by 

 pruning at this season, such stocks will usually refill 

 before fall, and are much better for wintering, which 

 is not the case when it is done later. We must of 

 necessity then waste the brood, and have a large space 

 ■unoccupied with combs through the, winter. But few 

 combs can then be made, and those few must be at 

 the expense of their winter stores, unless we resort to 

 feeding. 



These objections apply with greater force to pruning 

 in March or April. The loss of brood is of much more 

 consequence now, than in mid-summer, or even later, 

 and a space to be filled with combs is a serious dis- 

 advantage. It is important that the bees should de- 

 vote their whole attention now to rearing brood, and 

 be ready to cast their swarms as early as possible. 

 One earZy swarm is worth two late ones. Suppose a 

 stockf instead of collecting food and nursing its young, 

 is compelled to expend its honey and labor in secret- 

 ing wax and constructing combs before it can proceed 

 with breeding advantageously, it must of necessity be 

 some weeks later. 



Further, I have always found it best to have the 

 bees out of the way, during this operation. It will 

 be found much more difficult to drive the bees out of 

 a hive in the cool weather of March or April, than in 

 summer, as they seem unwilling to shift their warm 

 quarters and go into a cold hive. - 



It is presumed the reader will bear in mind the dis* 

 12 



