PtTKOHASING STOCKS AND TEANSPOETING BEES. 337 



amine tliem in pretty cold weather, as the bees will be 

 farther up among the combs, and give an opportunity 

 for inspecting them. About November, all the healthy 

 brood will be hatched. Sometimes a few young bees 

 may be left that have matured, and have been chilled 

 by sudden cold weather, but these are not diseased — 

 the bees will remove them the next season, and no bad 

 results will follow. In warm weather, a satisfactory in- 

 spection can be made, only with the use of smoke. Be 

 particular to reject all that are affected with the disease 

 in the least ; do without, rather than begin with such. 

 (A full description of the disease has been given in 

 Chap, xiv.) 



A neighbor once purchased thirteen hives ; six were 

 old ones, the others swarms of the previous season. He 

 probably knew nothing of foul brood, and as the old 

 hives were heavy, he thought them good, but five of the 

 sis were badly affected. Four were a total loss, except 

 the honey ; the fifth lasted through the winter, and then 

 had to be transferred. He had flattered himself that 

 they were obtained very cheaply, but when he estimated 

 the cost of the good ones, he found no great reason for 

 congratulation. 



Another point is worthy of consideration : endeavor 

 to get hives as near the right size as possible, (viz.) 2000 

 cubic inches, — better too large than too small. If too 

 large, they may be cut off, leaving them the proper size, 

 although this often makes the shape ungainly. But as 

 the shape probably makes no difference in the prosperity 

 of the bees, when extremes are avoided, the appearance 

 is the principal objection.* 



* a liive maybe cut off wilJi very little trouble In a cold day. Turn It over — 

 the bees will soon find it too cold to venture out— mark it the right size, and saw 

 it off. Lift off the piece, and trim off tlie combs even with the bottom of tile 

 Uive. Use smolce to drive the bees from tiie ends of the combs. 



15 



