bee-keeper'3 manual. 147 



" Just so, sir, but pardon my familiarity — there are 

 some things connected with this change, that will sooner 

 or later ruin your bees !" 



" Ah ! (looking serious,) indeed ! Ruin the bees, do 

 you say ?" 



" Yes, ruin them — destroy them — annihilate them 1" 



" Mercy on me ! are you sure." 



" Aye ! positive." 



" Pray, sir, what is it ?" 



" Look here ! (turning up the hive,) do you see these 

 thick, irregular combs." 



"I do." 



" You are aware that such combs are unfit for breed- 

 ing?" 



" For breeding ? — why, yes — no, don't know as I am." 



" Well, sir, not a solitary bee will ever be produced 

 in these combs. There are one, two, three, yes, three, 

 and perhaps four combs in this hive, that the eggs of the 

 queen may be deposited in. They are these thin, regu- 

 lar combs that you perceive in the centre of the hive, 

 which are called brood-combs. The others are store- 

 combs, and are only made for the reception of honey. 

 Next spring, the queen will do what she can to increase 

 her family ; but she must be restricted to three or four 

 combs, or parts of combs, for none of them appear to be 

 of a regular shape, as they should be ; and her increase 

 will not equal one half the number that she would pro- 

 duce, if she had a hive filled with the proper combs. 

 Where is the hive that they were in last season ?" 



" Here it is, with the combs undisturbed." 



