BEE-PALACES. 23 
for ants, millers, bugs, worms and every kind of insect which delights 
to collect in or about a Bee-hive. Here they find convenient lodging 
places. They are attracted thither by the scent or delicious contents of 
the hive, and they often collect there in great numbers. The miller 
especially, from which the Bee-moth proceeds,—the greatest enemy 
against which the Bees have to contend, and which has made such 
havoc with many swarms throughout New England, — may usually be 
found lurking or secreted during the day about the roof or platform 
upon which the Bees stand, ready to go forth at night, as it is accustom- 
ed to do, to perform its work of destruction by laying its eggs in or 
about the hive. Many swarms have no doubt been lost which might 
have lived and done well, had it not been for the depredations of those 
insects which collect in and about the Bee-house. Ordinarily it isa 
“‘ cage of all manner of unclean birds.” It should therefore be dispensed 
with entirely. There is amore excellent way. The open air is far 
preferable. This will appear when we come to speak particularly of 
the Bee-hive. 
CHAPTER VI. 
BEE-PALACES. 
It has been a favorite device with many to place Bees in a dark 
room prepared for them in the attic or some out-building, with a view 
to prevent them from swarming, where they may work “ad libitum.” 
The merits of this plan will be best understood when we come to speak 
of the theory of swarming and non-swarming. Bees placed in these 
circumstances will make a large quantity of comb, and deposit stores 
to a considerable amount, and increase in numbers to a certain extent 
until at length they become stationary, then usually decline, and after 
a certain pericd become extinct. The objection to this arrangement 
is, 1. That it prevents the natural increase and multiplication of 
colonies, in which a part of the Bee-keeper’s. profit consists. 2. The 
Bees are more exposed in these circumstances to the ravages of the 
Bee-moth and other insects. 3. The surplus honey is not in the most 
neat and salable condition. 4. The cutting and breaking of the comb, 
