136 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



gave less than 200 sections each. The best six colonies gave 

 respectively 383,384,384, 390, 395, 402. 



Whether you count the total 266.47 sections per colony, or 

 only the 245.6 .finished sections, I think that 1913 crop stands as 

 the world's record for the best yield of comb honey for as many 

 as 72 colonies. It could hardly be expected that I should not 

 feel a little proud of holding such a record; but I am not proud' 

 that in such a season there should be as many as 10 colonies 

 giving less than 200 sections each. I can take no pride in the 

 season ; that's one of God's good gifts ; I can only take pride in 

 good management and careful breeding ; and for those am I not 

 equally indebted to the same God? 



SHOP FOR BEE WORK. 



The shop (Fig. 71) in which the filled supers are stored is 

 a plain wooden building 18 x 24, two-story, with a bee-cellar 

 under it. The bee-cellar, however, has not been used for some 

 years. The upper story is used for storing empty supers, hives, 

 and other articles not very heavy, or such as are not often 

 needed. The outside door opens into the middle of the east 

 side of the house into a storeroom ; immediately in front of you 

 as you enter are the stairs leading to the upper story, and at 

 your right a door opens into the workroom. In this work- 

 room is a coal stove, and the room, being ceiled up, is comfort- 

 able in the severest weather. 



ROOM FOR QUEEN. 



Up to the time of putting on supers the queen has had 

 unlimited room with the design of encouraging the rearing of 

 as much brood as possible. When the harvest begins, she may 

 have as much as 6, 9, 11, even up to 14 frames well occupied 

 with brood and eggs. A good deal depends on the season, as 

 well as the queen. At one time I thought I ought to be able to 

 make a success of continuing the two stories of brood-frames 

 throughout the harvest. It seems that when a colony is so 

 strong as to have 12 or 14 frames of brood, there ought to be 

 no difficulty in having good super-work done by putting the 

 supers above the two stories ; and one season of failure the only 



