322 FALL MANAGEMENT. 



rately, IS a very important principle in this matter. 

 If each, family should have fifteen pounds of honey, 

 they would consume it all, and probably starve at last, 

 after eating thirty pounds. But if the contents of 

 both were in one hive, it would be amply sufficient, 

 and some to spare in the spring. 



UNITING COMB AND HONEY AS WELL AS BEES. 



The process of uniting them is simple. Smoke 

 both the stocks or swarms thoroughly, and turn them 

 o\rer. Choose the one with the straightest combs, or 

 the one nearest full, to receive the contents of the 

 other ; trim off the points of the combs to make them 

 square across, and this one is ready ; remove the sticks 

 from the other, and with your tools take out the 

 combs with the bees on as before directed, one at a 

 time, and carefully sat them on the edges of the other ; 

 if the shape will admit it, let the edges match ; if not, 

 let them cross. Small bits of wood or rolls of paper 

 will be needed between them, to preserve the right 

 distance. When both hives are of one size, the trans- 

 ferred combs will exactly fit, if you are careful to 

 place them as they were before. You will now want 

 to know, " what is to prevent these combs from falling 

 out when the hive is turned over ? " This hive is to 

 remain bottom up in soma dark place for some time, 

 or till spring. (See method of wintering bees.) The 

 bees will immediately join these combs fast ; the hive 

 being inverted, the honey in these combs will be con- 

 sumed first ; and when the hive is again set out in 

 spring, it will be a rare occurrence for any pieces to 



