SALVATION OF BEES. I2J 



have ftraw hives may, at that time, fafely 

 turn them upon their edge, and have a tole- 

 rable view,* to anfwer the above purpofe. 

 The diminution is fo great, that the fulleft 

 hives or boxes are then reduced to about a 

 quart ! and this by the natural decreafe of 

 the aged bees. To certify this, I took the 

 bees from feveral hiv^s, and found them to 

 meafure as by the above ftatementj the 

 ■weaker flocks lefs in proportion. 



This refill t proves, that all the advantage 

 obtained by faving the bees of stocks 

 taken, and uniting them to other flocks 

 (the only eligible means of faving), is ulti- 

 mately only the falvat'wn of a quart. And 

 as the queen muft be killed by the hand, or 

 by the flock bees to which they are to be 

 united, they cannot poffibly make any far- 

 ther increafe in the fpring. 



The queflion is then reduced to this ifTue: 

 Whether the multitude of bees, united about 

 Auguft, will not confume (though gradually 

 diminifhing) more honey before the fpring 

 gathering commences, than the quart left, 

 will compenfate by their labour ? 



Befides, 



