STTKPI,US HONEY IN BOXES AND EXTRACTED. S3 



the fruit blossoms appear, in to hives with movable combs, so that he 

 may use intelligent judgment on the subject. (See transferring.) This 

 operation seems at first formidable, but if the bees are well smoked, 

 (see smoker,) they will soon fill themselves with honey, and be 

 almost as harmless as flies, unless mashed. If no smoker is at hand a 

 roll of coarse cotton cloth may be used for the purpose. Place it well 

 lighted under the mouth of the hive, and the bees will soon be subdued. 

 The peculiar sound which they set up indicates subjugation. In mov- 

 able comb hives, we speak of the 1 >wer box as the broodnest, and the 

 upper one as the cap, or upper chamber. 



As to hives, adopt some good pattern, and stick to it. Make them so 

 exact that every part of each will fit with that part of another. This is 

 very important for many advantages are gained in an apiary by the in- 

 terchange of frames and parts of hives. For entrances, we recommend 

 only one in front, three-eighths by three inches, which can be supple- 

 mented by auger holes above. These can be stopped with corks for 



winter. 



Every hive should have at least one closely fitting divison board in 

 order to contract the space for the colony according to its strength and 

 the season. 



Do not be afraid of_ feeding bees when no honey is gathered in the 

 fields. If done regularly and systematically it will often repay one 

 hundred fold. (See " Feeding," page 112). 



Always aim to keep strong colonies. These are always the best in 

 eveiy respect, except at times when a number of queens are to be rear- 

 ed. Then nucleus, or small hives may be used. (See "Queen Bearing. ") 

 Strong stocks will be most apt to rear bright Italian queens, but if the 

 weather is cold queens are more apt to be dark colored. In handling 

 queens never catch them by the body, but by the wing. In searching 



