366 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



whiteness of the combs becomes soiled by the travel oi 

 the bees, or the purity of. the honey is impaired by an 

 infei-ior article gathered later in the season. 



The bees should have a liberal aUowance of air during 

 all extremely hot weather, especially if they are in unpaint- 

 cd hives, or stand in the sun. * 



August. — In most regions, there is but little forage for 

 bees during the latter part of July, and the first of 

 August, and being, on this account, tempted to rob each 

 other, the greatest precautions should be used in opening 

 hives. In districts where buckwheat is extensively culti- 

 vated, bees will sometimes swarm when it comes into 

 blossom, and in some seasons, extraordinary supplies are 

 obtained from it. In 1856, 1 had a buckwheat swarm as 

 late as the 16th of September! 



If any colonies are so fuU of honey, that they have not 

 room enough for raising brood, some of the combs should 

 now be removed (p. 183). If the caps of the cells are 

 carefully sliced off mth a very sharp knife, and the combs 

 laid over a vessel, in some moderately warm place, and 

 turned once, most of the honey will drain out of them, 

 and they may be returned to the bees, to be filled again. 



The bee-keeper who has queenless stocks on hand in 

 August, must expect, as the result of his ignorance or 

 neglect, either to have them robbed by other colonies, or 

 destroyed by the moth {^. 246). 



September. — This is often a very busy month with 

 bees. The Fall flowers come into blossom, and in some 

 seasons, colonies which have hitherto amassed but little 

 honey, become heavy, and even yield a surplus to their 

 owner. Bees are quite reluctant to work in boxes, so late 

 in the season, even if supplies are very abundant ; but if 

 empty combs are inserted in the place of full ones removed, 

 they will fill them with astonishing celerity. These full 



