84 THE BLESSED BEES. 



the sides of the can. The frames all had brood in 

 them, of which a good deal was, of course, not yet 

 sealed. From frames containing both brood and 

 honey, the honey can be thrown without injuring 

 the brood, if one is careful to turn with just the 

 right speed. After a few trials I got the knack of 

 it, and could throw out the honey without disturb- 

 ing a single growing larva. The honey having been 

 thrown from these first combs, they were returned 

 to their hive, and another hive was opened, and so 

 the work went on. It was not by any means easy 

 work for a beginner. A pretty wide experience has 

 convinced me that extracting is not easy work for 

 an old bee keeper. Lifting the combs from the 

 hive, shaking off the bees, carrying the combs to 

 and from the extractor — all are hard work. When 

 five o'clock came, and the day's work was done, I 

 was very tired. But the result of the work was so 

 stimulating that my weariness was almost forgotten. 

 From the thirteen hives, opened that day, had been 

 taken two hundred and twenty-six pounds of honey, 

 an average of more than seventeen pounds per hive. 

 The extensive maple forest was yielding to my 

 strong stocks a most abundant harvest. 



That night after the shop was cleared up, and 

 every thing in order for the next day, I sat down 

 to put in writing, and to consider in all its aspects, 

 a plan which had come into my mind as I was work- 



