OF MANAGING BEES. 13 



The hivG should have two sticks placed at equal distances 

 from the chamber floor to its bottom, crossing each other at 

 right angles, extending from the front corners to their most 

 extreme rear, resting on the rear, with a screw driven through 

 the front into the end of the sticli which holds it fast in its 

 place. It is found by experience that sticks are of essential 

 use to a young swarm of bees, inasmuch as they depend 

 greatly upon them to support their- solid columns a little 

 below the top of the hive, so as to exclude the air below from 

 rushing up, while the bees raise that degree of animal heat 

 necessary to the formation of comb, and attach it to the new 

 wood. But few bees, in proportion to their whole number, 

 can be employed in making comb when their labors are first 

 commenced in a new habitation ; and those which are en- 

 gaged in this important and arduous business are compelled 

 to retire for respiration and rest in a few minutes, and others 

 take their places to perform the laborious and almost suf- 

 focating task. Thus, while the main colony are stationed a 

 little back to exclude the air, and ruminate honey, which 

 causes wax to grow, the reader will see the importance of 

 something permanent for the bees to sustain themselves in 

 their perilous situation, being every moment exposed, and 

 liable to drop suddenly to the bottom of the hive, causing 

 the greatest confusion and derangement in their perfect or- 

 ganization, by exposing their work to a current of fresh air, 

 as well as the shock, which is painful to the bees, occasioned 

 by the fall. Thus their whole business is broken up, until 

 they can reorganize, and again exclude the air from their 

 work, and resume their labors, when, all on a sudden, down 

 goes the whole body of bees again in one general avalanche, 

 and (to them) a tremendous crash, leaving their work again 

 exposed, if not in ruins, by dragging a part, if not all, their 

 new-made comb, already softened by animal heat for suc- 

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