FALL MANAGEMENT. 818 



try the experiment of uniting two or more. The 

 next spring when they commenced work such double 

 stocks promised much ; but when the swarming season 

 arrived, the single swarms, such as were good and had 

 just about bees enough, were in the best condition, in 

 ordinary seasons. Whether this was owing to the 

 circumstance of there being already bees enough that 

 were beginning to crowd and interfere with each 

 other's labors, and less brood raised in consequence, 

 or to some other reasonj I cannot say. I have often 

 noticed, (as others have), that stocks which have cast 

 no swarms, are no better the next spring than others. 

 The same cause might operate in both cases. There- 

 lire it would appear unnecessary to unite two or more 

 good swarms, unless it is to spare our feelings in de- 

 stroying the bees. The two extremes may generally 

 be avoided, and not have too many or too few bees. 



SEASON FOR OPEKATDSTG. 



The season for operating is, generally, when all the 

 brood has matured and left the cells. The. exceptions 

 are when there are not bees enough to protect the 

 stores ; it may then be necessary, immediately after 

 the failure of honey. 



Col. H. K. Oliver, of Salem, Mass., is said to be the 

 inventor of the fumigator, an instrument to burn 

 fungus {puff-hall). By the aid of this the smoke is 

 blown in the hive, paralyzing the bees in a few 

 minutes; when they fall to the bottom, apparently 

 dead, but wiU recover in a few minutes, on receiving 

 fresh air. ' 



14 



