PRUNING. 209 



hive. Put it on the stand, and the work is done without 

 any extra expense for a patent, and the bees are much bet- 

 ter off for the honey left, which must be taken away, with 

 all patent plans that I have seen, except the movable 

 combs. This is worth much more to the bees than to the 

 iowner, as it often contains cocoons and bee-bread, and 

 they will repay with pure comb and honey. 



LITTLE RISK OP STING. 



The general objection to this mode of renewing combs, 

 is the fear of being stung. There is, however, but little 

 danger, not as much as in walking among the hives in a 

 Avarm day. Begin properly, use smoke, work carefully, 

 without pinching them, and you will generally escape un- 

 hurt. With the movable combs, it is only necessary to 

 take out a comb, shake off the bees, cut out what comb 

 you wisli, and return it to the hive. 



FREQUENT PRUNING NOT RECOMMENDED. 



In giving these directions, I do not wish it to be forgotten 

 that I disapprove of frequent pruning. Combs once used 

 for breeding, can be used for no other purpose as well, as 

 they are undesirable for storing honey. The time of the 

 bees can be much more profitably employed than in build- 

 ing new brood-combs every year. Combs can be used for 

 ten years without detriment to the bees. The idea that 

 bees win become dwarfed by being raised in cells long used 

 for such a purpose, is seldom entertained by practical bee- 

 keepers. I have long believed it impossible for the most 

 interested advocate, of renewal, to, detect any diminution 

 In the size of such bees. 



