450 GENERAL MAXIMS. 



taken off the hives, that the sun may play fully upon them. 

 A hive without a covering will swarm a fortnight sooner 

 than one with a covering. 



xxxiv. 



Bees to be assisted in the killing of the drones. As not 

 a single drone is left in the hive, they may be indis- 

 criminately killed as soon as the bees signify the proper 



time. 



xxxv. 



Bees of a first swarm begin their combs in the middle of 

 the hive ; the bees of a second swarm begin their combs at 

 the side. A valuable hint to the purchasers of swarms. 



Swarms always to be fed if rainy weather ensue imme- 

 diately after their being hived. The food to be given late at 

 night, but never in the middle of the day. A swarm not to 

 be placed in the immediate vicinity of the parent hive. 



In winter, the bees occupy the top of the hive ; in spring 

 and summer they occupy the middle and the bottom. 



The age of a hive determined by the colour of the combs. 



The combs of a young hive are yellow, progressing through 



every shade to a positive black, which is an indisputable 



sign of an old hive. 



xxxi x. 



The goodness of a hive determined by its weight ; a hive 

 of twenty-five pounds may be considered excellent if in the 

 months of February or March ; if in September or October, 

 it is then but of a secondary character. 



