PUrriNG ON AND TAKING OFF BOXES. 143 



on boxes at the time the swarms are hived. In such cases 

 the box is often filled first, and will quite often contain 

 brood. I consider it no advantage, but often a damage to 

 do so, unless the swarm is very large and early. I want 

 the hive ftill in any case, and if they have time to do more, 

 they may then enter the boxes, although they may gather 

 buckwheat instead of clover honey. 



When the boxes are free from the bees, two things are 

 to be attended to, if we wish to preserve our honey till 

 cold weather. One is to keep out the worms, the other to 

 prevent souring. The last may be new to many, but it 

 sometimes occurs in warm weather from damrpness. The 

 combs become covered with moisture, a portion of the 

 honey becomes thin like water, and turns sour. Remedy : 

 keep perfectly dry and cool, especially dry. 



TO SECDKE HONEY rKOM WORMS. 



But the worms, you can surely keep them out, you 

 think, since you can seal up the boxes perfectly close, pre- 

 venting the moth, or even the smallest ant from entering. 

 Yes, you may do this effectually, but the worms will often 

 be there, uiJess kept in a very low temperature, as in a 

 very cool cellar, or house, and then you have dampness to 

 guard against. I store my surplus honey in a cool, dry 

 cellar, and have no trouble whatever with the moth worm. 



I have taken off glass jars, and watched them tiU the 

 bees were aU out, and was certain the moth did not come 

 near them ; then immediately sealed them up, absolutely 

 preventing any access, and felt quite sure that I should 

 have no trouble with the worms. But I was sadly mis- 

 taken. In a few days, I could see a little white dust, like 

 flour, on the side of the combs, and bottom of the jar. 

 As the worms grew larger, this dust was coarser. By 

 looking closely at the combs, a small, white thread-like 

 line could be perceived, enlarging as the worm progressed. 



