PURCHASING. 27 



the combs are crowded with bees, and the 

 combs worked down to the floor. If white, 

 or of a light yellow, it denotes their being of 

 the prefent year's ^produce, and fit for the 

 purpofe ; but if they are of a very deep yel* 

 low, or brown, they are of the laft feafon, 

 and not fo proper ; while thofe that are 

 dingy, or b/acki/b, are old, and wholly unfit 

 to furnifh a profperous apiary. To avoid 

 deception, obferve, that though a hive may 

 have the edges of the combs of a light yel- 

 low, they may be old flocks neverthelefs, 

 whofe combs the preceding year not having 

 been completed, have in the prefent had 

 new borders added to them of virgin wax, fo 

 as to look like young flocks. Look carefully 

 between the combs, as far as the bees will 

 admit ; and if the interior parts appear fa- 

 vourable, form a judgment accordingly. 

 The hive fhould be poifed in the hand ; and 

 if it be about half-bufhel fize, and weigh 

 twenty-five pounds or upwards, it is another 

 teft of its being a good ftock. But the weight 

 alone, of old ftocks, cannot be relied on, 

 as great part of the combs may be crammed 



with 



