TO MAKE BEES PROFITABLE. 217 



writer, from any given stand-point, to undertake to 

 give specific directions that will apply with equal 

 propriety to all climates and circumstances, where 

 bees are kept, although their nature and habits remain 

 the same. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



now TO MAKE BEES PROFITABLE WITHOUT RAPID INCREASE 

 OF COLONIES. 



To those who wish to secure a large yield of honey 

 rather than an increase of colonies, we recommend 

 the following plan ; but to operate with ease and 

 certainty, it is necessary to have the bees in our im- 

 proved movable comb hives. 



When the bees begin to work busily in the spring, 

 carefully examine all your stocks, some fine, warm 

 day, by lifting out each comb. Should you find one 

 scarce of honey and another having a good supply, 

 exchange combs, being careful to brush off all the 

 bees, each into their own hive ; thus you will give a 

 full comb of honey to the one that lacks, and replace 

 it in the other hive with the empty comb. In this 

 manner all the stocks in the apiary may be equalized. 

 The strong, heavy stocks may be benefited by re- 

 moving one or two combs that contain only honey, 

 provided they are fed as directed, but not otherwise. 

 I here protest against taking honey from the hives 

 at this season of the year, under the false apprehen- 

 sion that they have too much. 

 19 



