80 THE BLESSED BEES. 



The alders, the willows of different species, and 

 the white and red maples gave sufficient pollen and 

 honey to promote brood rearing before April 15th, 

 hence when I began to transfer, all the hives had 

 some hatching brood, and other brood, in all stages 

 of growth. As soon as the bees were in the mova- 

 ble-comb hives, I began systematic effort to stimu- 

 late the queens to lay. Some of my efforts gave 

 much amusement to those of my neighbors who 

 learned about them. Early in the season it is im- 

 portant that the hives be kept quite warm, so that 

 the queens will lay, and so that the young brood 

 will not be chilled. Yet early in the season we 

 often have cool days, and the nights are usually 

 quite cool. To prevent the escape of the heat 

 generated by the bees in the hive, I had some 

 small comfortables made, the exact length and 

 width of the hives, and with these the tops of the 

 frames containing the comb were closely covered. 

 On top of these quilts I put two or three thick- 

 nesses of carpet. My wise neighbors, who had 

 always seen bees kept in the old, careless way, 

 laughed not a little at " that young Allen, who was 

 tucking his bees up in bed comforts." Their fun 

 gave me no uneasiness, for I felt quite certain that 

 before many months were gone the laugh would be 

 in my favor. I could remember when they had 

 made similar complimentary remarks about my 



