EXTRACTED HONEY. 431 
breeding-room, they become more readily induced to make 
preparations for swarming (406). 
It is then that a large number of young bees would be 
necessary to make up for the loss which the colony will sus- 
tain, in the departure of the swarm; and yet the dimi- 
nished number of eggs laid produces exactly the reverse 
of the desired result. 
There is perhaps a fourth item of loss, in failing to 
furnish empty combs to this colony, and that when the 
season is not very favorable. Many practical bee-keepers 
have noticed that, in rather unfavorable seasons, it is diffi- 
cult to induce bees to work in an empty surplus box, 
which they would work in readily if it were furnished 
with combs. It is a question which may remain doubt- 
ful, whether the bees do not sometimes, in such cases, 
remain idle for a day or two, rather than begin building 
comb in a box which they do not expect to be able to fill. 
753. In view of the above facts, and after an experience 
of twenty years with the honey extractor, we strongly urge 
all beginners to produce extracted honey in preference to 
comb-honey, wherever they can sell it readily for half as 
much as comb honey. We have shown the advantages of 
its production to the bees; let us now show the advantages 
to the Apiarist. 
754. Ist. He can control, and take care of, a much 
greater number of colonies. The manipulations of an Apiary, 
run for extracted honey, occupy less than one half of the time 
required for the production of comb-honey. Our largest 
comb-honey producers acknowledge that one man cannot 
handle more than two hundred colonies successfully, when 
run for comb-honey (719), while as many as five hundred 
colonies, located in different Apiaries (682), are managed 
successfully by one Apiarist, when run for extracted honey, 
During extracting time, of course, additional help is re- 
