5 6 THE BLESSED BEES. 



cautious, and self-possessed he need get stung but 

 little. A few stings, however, have a way of so 

 making themselves felt that the person stung is 

 willing to affirm that their name is legion. My 

 swollen hands this first night testified that I had 

 received a portion of the discipline a beginner must 

 expect. I applied hartshorn liniment, wrapped my 

 hands in cloths wet in cold water, went to bed, and 

 forgot stings in sound sleep. 



The next day I transferred six, and after that 

 seven a day until all were in their new hives. The 

 whole job was finished before noon on the sixth day. 



When all was done I had the thirty-six swarms of 

 bees with an average of ten frames of good comb to 

 each swarm, and one hundred and eighty-seven 

 frames more, nearly or quite full of comb. Some of 

 these frames were filled with pieces of comb which 

 had been carefully fitted together, and I found after- 

 wards that such frames were nearly as good as those 

 filled with a single perfect comb. THe bees fastened 

 the pieces together, and used them readily for both 

 honey and brood. 



It was Saturday night, April 22d, that I found my 

 preliminary work was done. The bees were in their 

 new homes and working merrily. The frames of 

 comb not then needed by the bees were neatly stored 

 in empty hives. The lot of broken combs, nearly 

 filling a barrel, were ready for melting into wax. I 



