and its Economic Management. 335 



Heather honey being so thick, it is quite impossible to 

 extract it unless removed as fast as gathered, and this is 

 not desirable. It is usual for bees to crowd the stock 

 combs late in the season, as many find to their cost ; but 

 why is it so? It is not that the nights are cooler, as 

 frequently the temperature at night is much higher in 

 August than during May, when bees work well in the 

 supers. It is not even that the bees are aware that the 

 season is drawing to a close, as many consider ; but if we 

 would go to the very starting point of the trouble, we 

 shall find that 



The whole question centres upon the Queen, 



as every bee-keeper may prove for himself, and as he will 

 admit as he follows my statements. 



Now, what is the condition of the colony which goes 

 first into the supers in early summer ? Have I not already 

 shewn that the hive must be full of bees, and have every 

 stock comb literally cratnmed with brood, when the honey 

 must go into the sections ? Well, go and do likewise for 

 your heather crop ! Imagine that you have another year, 

 a new season coming in, instead of a late season in the 

 same year ; and then you will have your honey where you 

 want it. 



But, you say the bees will not breed to any extent late 

 in the year. True, the same queen that you have used 

 all the summer will be of no use to you in this emergency, 

 and just here is the point. You are, then, to 



Use a Young Queen,* 



and the best way to have one in readiness for every hive 

 is to follow my plan of using every tenth colony for nuclei 

 as already shewn. Your first harvest closes towards the 



* See also Simmins' Non-Swarming Pamphlet (Feb. 1886). 



