106 APPENDIX. 



From these considerations we are now led to the inquiry ; 

 What is^nd has been the most fruitful source of trouble 

 in the apiary ? We answer, first, excessive swajTining; 

 second, the moth miller ; third; the saccharine substance of 

 flowers dries up so soon that the bees in the stock hives are 

 unable to collect a winter's supply, causing disease or induc- 

 ing robberies atnong the swarms, which often seem dis- 

 posed, like men, to prey upon the wealth of others. This 

 last seldom'occurs when a more honest means of securing a 

 livelihood is afforded them, unless, however, their predatory 

 propensities are excited by the odor of the honey which 

 drips down among the ranges of comb, to the bottom of the 

 improperly ventilated hives. It sometimes happens that 

 the comb is separated from the sides of the hive by the ex- 

 cess of animal heat within, and the rays of the sun without, 

 which often causes the contents to melt down, unless the 

 swarm remains outside until attacked by its neighbors, or 

 the breach is repaired. Fourth, the young swarms are 

 called from their work of collecting honey and building 

 comb, (when first introduced into their new tenement,) to 

 prepare the inside of the hive for the rich and delicious 

 deposit, and the honey season is often past before this 

 task is completed. Fifth, bees are liable' in winter to freeze, 

 on account of partitions in the hive : (the separations 

 formed by the ranges of comb are bad enough.) We 

 have frequently known bees perish in some parts of the old 

 rectangular '* box hive,'' while the rest of the swarm, which 

 inhabited the other portions, would remain brisk and lively. 

 But some men cannot be satisfied with a hive of the proper 

 form and dimensions, but will crowd their bees into small 

 boxes, and in , return get " goose-egg swarms," of no profit 

 whatever ; or they will use flour-barrels, cut open in the 

 middle, expecting in this way to reap great harvests from 



