2 6 A Modern Bee-Farm 



honey in view of future requirements, and if the load could be 

 transferred, as the honey is to the younger bees, we should not 

 be able to reckon upon the almost total absence of that article 

 from our comb honey. 



That the young bees do take so large a share of the work, as 

 explained above, shows remarkable economy of labour, and 

 disproves the theory that there is no benefit to be derived from 

 brood hatched out less than three weeks previous to the probable 

 close of the honey harvest. During a heavy flow I have seen 

 hives with none but newly-hatched bees at home, proving also 

 that upon an emergency young bees begin to carry much earlier 

 than is often supposed. The fact is, from the time surplus 

 receptacles are put on, the production of brood should be 

 limited to the capacity of nine " Standard " frames. That 

 number of combs crowded with brood, except for the usual 

 quantity of pollen stored, will represent the population needed to 



Make up for the continued Wear and Tear 



of bee-life, and to keep the stock in good heart after the hard 

 work is past ; as few of those which have gathered the stores are 

 to be found within three weeks after the close of the season. 

 Examine the hive, and you will find every field worker has its 

 wings more or less worn ; look again, after the interval named, 

 and they are gone. 



How the Honey is Stored. 



Watch the bee relieving itself of the nectar brought in. 

 Should she select an empty cell, she first assures herself that it 

 is quite clean, and then beginning at the base, with her tongue 

 she commences to "paint" the same with the honey slowly 

 leaving her tongue, until the first load completely covers the 

 three squares. Another load is brought, and the next bee 

 continues the operation of " painting " the sides of the cell, but 

 only so far as it is necessary to accommodate her own load which 



