STOCK-HIVES. ' 129 



the 20th of May. One was put into an empty hive, and 

 the other into one containing some sweet empty combs. 

 In about two months the swarm that was put into the 

 empty hive weighed 70 lb., whereas the other that had 

 the advantage of the combs weighed 90 lb. The swarm, 

 on being hived amongst the combs, was apparently a little 

 less than the other. A hive even half or a third fuU of 

 young combs is a great advantage to a swarm, for the bees 

 at once begin to collect honey and set eggs. If it be 

 desired to feed the hives kept for stock with honey in 

 those set aside for swarms next season, it is easily done 

 by placing the comb-hives under the bee-hives for a single 

 night. The bees will go down and empty every cell of 

 honey, and carry all up into their own combs, without 

 injuring those of the beeless ones. Thus the weak hives 

 are made to feed the strong ones in unfavourable honey 

 years. 



But one of the greatest difficulties which overtake a 

 bee-master well up in the profitable management of his 

 stock, is when aU his hives become too heavy for keeping. 

 Some seasons his second swarms and turnouts and stock- 

 hives will rise in weight to 70, 80, and 100 lb. each, 

 and first swarms will go 30 or 40 lb. beyond 100 lb. 

 weight. When this happens, both the season and the 

 locality are favourable for honey-gathering. Well, what 

 should be done with such heavy hives 1 Put them all 

 down for honey and honey-comb. The profit in such a 

 season is very great. But if all the hives are put down 

 for honey, there will be none left for stock. Stop a little. 

 There are three ways of keeping up the number of stock- 

 hives and getting honey from aU the hives. 



1. One is to drive the bees out of aU the hives before 

 the honey season ends, and put two swarms into an 

 empty hive. A few days of fine weather wiU enable the 

 bees to fill their new hive with combs, but there wiU be 



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