14° DEPRIVATION. 



is very fcanty; a circumftance which leaves 

 numerous vacant cells for the rearing brood, 

 and thereby renders deprivation much later 

 than ufual. "For the hives may feel heavy, 

 but it will not be from honey, but moftly 

 from farina and brood (efpecially if the ftock 

 is of two years {landing) ; which may lead 

 the apiator into a fatal error, as thinking the 

 ftock rich, though in fact it may be very 

 poor, and die of famine in the fpring. Stocks 

 left double are not liable to this cafualty. 



To JUDQE OF THE WEIGHT AND CON- 

 DITION of a ftock fit for ftanding, befides 

 the direction given before in this chapter, 

 lift the ftock a little up : if it feels of a due 

 weight, that is, about twenty pounds exclu- 

 live of the hive, it may be fafely concluded 

 as fit to keep. 



It will be ufeful on feveral occafions to 

 number and weigh the hives and floors, be- 

 fore the bees are put in. By this means, 

 any evening, by flopping the hive door, 

 they may be readily weighed, without any 

 difturbance to the bees. 



If any of the ftocks remain trebled till 

 Auguft, take away the moid empty ; for it 



is 



