198 Of the Honey Harveft. 
any other hive. Indeed, experience convinces 
me, that there never was a hive, however large, 
profperous, and numerous of inhabitants in 
fummer, either naturally, or by being united, 
that did not gradually decreafe againft next 
fpring, fo as very little to exceed the moft or- 
dinary hives in number. It is true, indeed, 
that fome fwarms of bees, by being kept ina 
very large hive for feveral years, have had as 
much honey and wax, as three or four ordina- 
ry hives. But fuch cafes only occur, either 
when two or three fwarms go together in 
fwarming time, or when a thriving fwarm 
continues for fome years in a large hive; and, 
by collecting perhaps 6olb. of honey every 
year, and confuming only the half of it dur- 
ing winter and fpring, thus increafes the ftock 
of honey, and the weight of the hives, at the 
rate of 30lb. a-year™. 
é Neverthelefs 
* T am quite certain, however, that a great number of bees 
in one capacious hive,—I fhall fuppofe 30,000,—-will breed a- 
mazingly ; as they will have perhaps, in June or July, not under 
4,00@ young in the cells; for almoft every comb in the hive at 
that feafon, will be quite full of eggs, nymphs and young bees, 
all gradually coming forward. According to this calculation, 
allowing 18 days to pafs between the time that an ege is laid, 
and a complete bee produced from it, there would not be fewer 
than 300 eggs laid each day in the hive,—an altonifhing num- 
be 
