EXTRACTED HONET. 431 



breeding-room, they become more readily induced to make 

 preparations for swarming (406). 



It is tlien tliat a large number of young bees would be 

 necessary to make up for the loss which the colony will sus- 

 tain, iu 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 lavorable. 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 ahoYe facts, aud after an experience 

 of twenty j^ears 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. 1st. 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 aclsnowledge 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 (582), are managed 

 successfully by one Apiarist, when run for extracted honey. 

 During extracting time, of course, additional help is re- 



