62 Flt'TY YEAUS AMONC THE BEES 



the blade ))eiug lielil at right angles to tlie surface being cleaned. 

 The weight of the hatchet is quite a help, something like a fly- 

 wheel in machineiT. 



It •\\ould be a nice thing to clean the propolis out of all 

 hi\es every spring, because I am in a region for profitable 



Fifi. ]7 — JRecoril honks. 



|iro|)olis production if it ever comes to he a stajile article of 

 coiiiineiee; but it takes some tiuie to clean tlie hives, aud it is 

 not done evei-y spring. 



PREPARING TO CLEAN HIVES. 



ir Ihe hi\es are to be cleaned, an empty clean hive is ready 

 in ach'anee. The em]ity hive is ])laced at I'iglit angles to the 

 hive to be overhauled, the back end of the empty bi\e near the 



