172 
THE farmer’s manual. 
from all obstruclions ; even the ends of straws that 
project in the interior of a new straw hive, are all 
removed, and often with groat trouble. To remedy 
this, every new hive should be smoked, and cleansed, 
and rubbed with a stilT brush, until it is quite smooth, 
before it is presented for the use of the swarm. 
It is universally admitted by all Apiarians, that the 
Bees employ no other substance for the foundation 
of their combs than propolis, although the ancients, 
even Pliny, has furni^ied them with two others 
of an unctuous, pithy nature, more adhesive than 
ju-opolis. On leaving the parent hive, the young 
swarm are provided with ,all the requisites for their 
now labours, with food for .several days; and when 
they take possession of their new habitation, their 
activity and order are truly striking. Some cleanse 
the hive, others close up every crevice where the 
lightcan penetrate, others coiistruct the combs, whilst 
others repair to the fields, and collect the necessary 
materials; thus all is action aod order, amidst the 
busy hum. 
The Bee always begins her labours at the top of 
the hive, and generally in the middle; thus they lay 
their foundation for the deposit of the eggs of the 
queen, around which they construct the ceils for the 
reception of honey, and the whole fabric hangs sus- 
pended in air. They attach their combs with such a 
viscous glue, that they are always firm, and were 
never known to fail ; and to diminish as much as 
possible the weight of their edifice, they give the 
least possible thickness to their cells ; but, at the 
same time, they strengthen the .entrance of their 
cells by a border of wax; this part being most ex- 
posed to sufl'er from use. This border, also, serves 
to assist in /retaining the honey, and thus discloses 
the fact, that the Bee possesses a pei’fect knowledge 
of the laws of fluids; by the assistance of this bor- 
der, the cell can be filled with honey even to a coa- 
vex form, and thus being covered by a pellicle of wax, 
