APPLE BLOSSOMS. 85 



ing over the extractor. I will here set down the 

 date upon which my plan of work for the year was 

 finally based — a plan which achieved such a brilliant 

 success as to be almost incredible, except to those 

 who have some acquaintance with the methods and 

 results of modern bee keeping. 



1. By extracting from the hives every two or 

 three days during an abundant yield of honey, the 

 bees are stimulated by the loss of their stores to 

 such unremitting industry, that the number of 

 pounds of honey obtained from a hive is greatly 

 increased. The reports spoke not unfrequently of 

 getting three hundred pounds. Sometimes four 

 hundred pounds per hive were obtained during the 

 season. 



2. By extracting frequently the cells are emptied 

 of honey, and so are ready for the queen to lay in. 

 And as the bees are bringing in honey rapidly, she 

 is stimulated to do her best. So the hive is kept 

 full of growing brood, and very strong in mature 

 bees old enough to work. 



3. The honey extracted from the combs before it 

 has been sealed up in the cells by the bees is thin- 

 ner, and not so good in flavor as when it has been 

 left in the combs until sealed. But if left until 

 sealed, the bees are not stimulated to so great in- 

 dustry, and a much smaller number of pounds is 

 secured. 



