308 FALL MAiSTAGEMEira. 



out of the way. Carelessness is but a sorry excuse, for 

 letting bees establish this habit of dishonesty. Should 

 any stocks be weak from disease, the consequences 

 would be even more disastrous than bad habits ; the 

 reasons why such impure honey should not .go into 

 thrifty stocks, have already been given. If we want 

 the least possible trouble with our bees, none but the 

 best should be selected for winter. But what consti- 

 tutes a good stock, seems to be but partially under-^ 

 stood ; if we judge from the number lost annually, too 

 many are careless, or ignorant in the selection ; sup- 

 posing, perhaps, because a stock has been good one 

 winter and swarmed well, it must of course be right ; 

 the mistake is often fatal. 



BEES CHANGEABLE. 



Bees are so changeable, especially in the summer 

 and swarming season, that we can seldom be certain 

 what they are, by what they have been. It is safest, 

 therefore, to know what they are now. 



EEQUlSITEg FOR GOOD STOCKS. 



The proper jgquisites for a good stock are a full 

 hive of proper shape and size, (viz., 2,000 inches,) well 

 stored with honey ; a large family of bees, and in a 

 healthy condition, which must be ascertained by actual 

 inspection. The age is not important till over eight 

 years old. Stocks possessing these points, can be win- 

 tered with but little trouble. But it cannot be expect- 

 ed that all will be in this condition. Many bee-keep- 

 ers will wish to increase their stocks and keep all that 



