THE SAVING OF BEES. 33 



ONITING WEAK SWARMS. 



" 'The greatest profit lies in saving bees, not in killing them" — 

 Edward Prince. 



The old practice of destroying the bees, in order to secure the 

 honey, thus throwing away all prospect of future gain, for a lit- 

 tle present advantage, is not only cruel but wholly unnecessary, 

 and should be discountenanced by every admirer of this untiring 

 little busybody. 



Two weak families, when united, will consume little, if any 

 more honey, than each would if left separate. The reason of this 

 is, a strong colony is able to maintain the proper degree of warmth 

 m cold weather, which greatly lessens the consumption of food. 

 . Vs soon as the autumn frosts have killed the flowers, colonies 

 that are too weak to protect their stores are much exposed to 

 robbery. Such, may either be strengthened by bringing bees 

 from a distance, (see "How to Collect an Apiary,") or two of 

 them may be joined together. "When uniting stocks, smoke them 

 thoroughly and shake the bees into a box or upon a sheet, to- 

 gether. Sprmkle them with sweetened water to prevent quar- 

 reling, and to keep them quiet, and hive as a single swarm. 

 Stocks in the movable-comb hive may be united without shaking 

 the bees from the combs, if early in the spring or in cool weather 

 in the fall, or when the flowers yield a bountiful supply ol honey, 

 as the bees are then very peaceable. Treat them to tobacco 

 smoke, which will induce all to fill themselves with honey, and 

 eerve to give them the same scent. Remove the combs with the 

 bees adhering and place them together m the same Live, leaving 

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