16 AN EASY METHOD 



hive before using it, to see that there are no spiders' webs, 

 or moths, which are exceeding wily and sly in all their habits, 

 particularly in secreting their eggs from the notice of the 

 bees. There is frequently some difficulty in making the 

 necessary examination without breaking out a sheet of comb 

 to examine at the top of the hive, for this is the place where 

 the moths are usually found in the spring. The bees cluster 

 m and about the lower edge of the comb and near the mouth 

 of the hive during the moth season, to protect their tenement 

 from that formidable enemy ; but the chilly night air of au- 

 tumn compels the bees to recede a little from the hive's 

 entrance, and cluster in a body a little more firmly, in order 

 to keep themselves warm, when in goes the monster in a 

 " little corner sly," passes up to the top of the hive, and 

 there, unobserved and unmolested, sows her seeds of rapine 

 and plunder, and then retires to die. Now, as the moth-mil- 

 ler has entered her sting, left her eggs concealed from the 

 bees leaving but a slight orifice, they are unobserved by the 

 bees, until their animal heat has hatched them out in the 

 winter, or early in spring : hence a swarm that has died in the 

 winter may have moths that are not removed, and summer 

 heat will be the only test by which the true^condition of the 

 comb can be certainly known. If the comb is in a good 

 state of preservation, the bees avail themselves of a great 

 advance profit, instead of retaining the honey in their sacks 

 several days before they can empty them, for want of comb 

 for storage : in this case, their burdens are at once relieved, 

 and the bees are in the gardens, fields, and forests, collect- 

 ing more of that precious treasure so conducive to their 

 wants. But we shall say something more on this subject in 

 its proper place. 



There should be three sheet-iron or zinc slides, which 

 answer for a whole establishment ; one of which should be 



