CALENDAR. 171 



pounds of pure honeycomb by feeding this swarm with all 

 his refuse combs and impure or soiled honey. We have 

 filled supers by feeding swarms placed in empty hives in 

 September. The bees in such cases take no impurities 

 from the combs to the supers. After filtering impure or 

 soiled honey, they present it to us in a beautiful state of 

 purity. 



After the refuse combs have been well licked or cleaned 

 by the bees, they should be boiled in pure water for wax. 

 Wax is so adhesive that it is diflficult to remove it from 

 any pot or dish it may touch. A good handful of soda 

 used in water destroys in a great measure its adhesive 

 powers, and therefore makes easy the work of cleaning 

 dishes in wax-boiling. 



September, of all the months of the year, is characterised 

 by robbing and fighting amongst bees. They have thiev- 

 ish propensities all the summer months, but then they 

 can find honey in flowers more readily than by becoming 

 housebreakers. In September, robbers are prowling about 

 constantly, and test the defensive powers of every stock 

 ^n the garden. If they get admission, and are not re- 

 sisted, a hive is soon robbed of aU its honey. Generally 

 speaking, the enemy is repulsed. The doors of hives 

 should be contracted as soon as honey-gathering ends. 



October, November, and December. — Under proper and 

 enlightened management bees require no attention from 

 September till March. If feeding in September has not 

 been attended to, it should be done as soon as possible. 

 Late feeding is very dangerous, for it may induce bees to 

 commence breeding, and a frosty night may come and 

 chUl the brood to death. We have known hives ruined 

 by late feeding. The chilled brood became foul. We 

 have tried late feeding with a view to get a late hatch of 



