47 
part of the honey season, to aid in softening the wax 
for comb-building. By using a composition, described 
under the head of “bee-glue,” much time may be 
saved by the bees. The boxes should not be more 
than four or five inches high, and protected against 
rain and the direct rays of the sun, by an outer box, 
cover or cap. lo induce the bees to commence work 
in the boxes, pieces of clean, empty comb should be 
attached to the under side of the top, and placed di- 
rectly over the breeding apartment, with large open- 
ings under each box, to admit the bees and warm air 
from below. When the boxes are first adjusted, begin 
early in the season supplying a few strong stocks first, 
(giving one box to each,) and when the bees have com- 
menced in them, give boxes to the next strongest, and 
so on until all are supplied. But a small amount of 
room should be given at first, to economize the heat 
from below for comb-building, and after a commence- 
ment is made, additional room may be given. As the 
season advances, and the heat in the hive causes bees to 
cluster outside, shade the hive from the sun, and if 
forage is plenty, so that bee-robbery need not be 
feared, enlarge the entrance, to admit more air, and 
give more room for surplus honey, if needed. 
After a stock has nearly filled its boxes, it will often take 
a longtime to finish them; but fewcan find room to work 
the others are either forced to idleness or must store 
