304: SUMMER. 



with ttem. This drink may be used till dried up, 

 occasioually adding a little water; perhaps it is better 

 after fermenting. This recipe appeared some years 

 ago in some paper ; I have forgotten where. Salt 

 has been recommended to prevent the mischief of the 

 worms, as well as a benefit to the bees. I used it 

 pretty extensively for several years, as I thought 

 without much benefit, and got tired. I then tried 

 salting a part, and let the rest do entirely without, 

 and found no difference in their prosperity. Since 

 then, some ten years ago, I abandoned its use alto- 

 gether, and succeed just as well. 



CHAPTER XX. 



MELTING DOWN OF COMBS. 

 THK CAUSE. 



When extreme hot weather occurs immediately 

 after the bees have been gathering from a plentiful 

 harvest for two or three weeks, or even during the 

 yield, the wax composing new combs is very liable to 

 be softened, till they break loose from their fastenings 

 and settle to the bottom. 



EFFECTS. 



Sometimes the injury is trifling, only a piece or two 

 slipping down ; at other times the whole contents fall 

 in a confused and broken mass, the weight pressing 

 out the honey, and besmearing the bees, which in that 

 situation creep out, and away, from the hive in every 

 direction. 



