52 



BEE-FARMING. 



was laughed at by some of our intelligent bee-masters, for 

 the simple reason that they could not understand or believe 

 they could make sufficient comb for storing food for winter 

 use. I do not advise anyone to commence building up 

 <:olonies from single stocks ; in such a case I do nDt 

 wonder at numerous failures, simply because there are not 

 sufficient bees to raise the heat necessary for wax-making 

 or enough wax-workers to carry on the operation success- 

 fully. My advice to all is, never try to build up a stock 

 at this late season with less than three stocks in each 

 hive. Do not all or nearly all the workers die by the fol- 

 lowing April ? I believe they do. Then is it not folly to 

 place so many together ? No, I reply, for, by the time 

 named, the queen has got a good start for the season ; if 

 she is young and vigorous the workers will have prepared 

 •cells perhaps more in number than she can fill. If the 

 colony is weak in the autumn it will never do any good ; 

 •destroy it, or add it to some other stock. 



THE BEE-STING. 



Most bee-keepers will confess, that when they first 

 began apiculture they had a dread of the bee-sting. We 

 cannot, therefore, wonder that strangers, who have had no 

 practical acquaintance with bees, should dread it ; indeed, 

 we believe this has been the greatest hindrance to apicul- 

 ture, and is the chief cause why where we now only find 

 one hive hundreds are not kept. 



Bees, if injured, will sting their master, although he 

 may have for years tended the hive, and become thoroughly 

 acquainted with them; but it is seldom their anger is 

 roused, excepting only under very trying circumstances. 

 First let us learn how they may be excited so as to become 

 really savage, and sting anyone who may be within reach, 

 then how they may be rendered harmless, so as to be han- 

 dled with impunity. 



