bee-keeper's axioms. 467 



December. — In regions where it is advisable to house 

 bees, the dreary reign of Winter is now fairly established, 

 and the directions given for January are for the most part 

 equally applicable to this month. It may be well, in hives 

 out of doors, to remove the dead bees and other refuse from 

 the bottom-boards, but neither in this month nor at any other 

 time, should this be attempted with those removed to a dark 

 and protected place. Such colonies must not, except under 

 the pressure of some urgent necessity, be disturbed in the 

 very least, (p. 116.) 



I recommend to the inexperienced bee-keeper, to read 

 this synopsis of monthly management, again and again, and 

 to be sure that he fully understands and punctually dis- 

 charges the appropriate duties of each month, neglecting 

 nothing, and procrastinating nothing to a more convenient 

 season ; for while bees do not require a large amount of at- 

 tention, in proportion to the profits yielded by them, they 

 must have it at the proper time and in the right way. Those 

 who complain of their unprofitableness, are often as much 

 to blame as a farmer who, after neglecting to take suitable 

 care of his stock, or to gather his crops in season, should 

 denounce his employment as yielding only a scanty return, 

 on a large investment of capital and labor. 



Bee-Keeper's Axioms. 



Under this head I shall briefly enumerate certain first 

 principles which should regulate the whole management of 

 bees, and ought therefore to be as familiar to every Apiarian, 

 as the letters of his alphabet. 



1st. Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an attack. 



2nd. Bees may always be made peaceable, by inducing 

 them to accept of liquid sweets. 



