THE SAVING OF BEES. 
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UNITING WEAK SWARMS. 
“ The greatest profit lies in saving bees, not in killing them ." — 
Edward Prince. 
The old practice of destroying the bees, in order to secure the 
honey, thus throwing away all prospect of future gain, for a lit- 
tle present advantage, is not only cruel but wholly unnecessary, 
and should be discountenanced by every admirer of this untiring 
little busybody. 
Two weak families, when united, will consume little, if anv 
more honey, than each would if left separate. The reason of this 
is, a strong colony is able to maintain the proper degree of warmth 
in cold weather, which greatly lessens the consumption of food. 
As soon as the autumn frosts have killed the flowers, colonies 
that are too weak to protect their stores are much exposed to 
robbery. Such, may either be strengthened by bringing bees 
from a distance, (see “How to Collect an Apiary,”) or two of 
them may be joined together. When uniting stocks, smoke them 
thoroughly and shake the bees into a box or upon a sheet, to- 
gether. Sprinkle them with sweetened water to prevent quar- 
reling, and to keep them quiet, and hive as a single swarm. 
Stocks in the movable-comb hive may be united without shaking 
the bees from the combs, if early in the spring or in cool weather 
in the fall, or when the flowers yield a bountiful supply of honey, 
as the bees are then very peaceable. Treat them to tobacco 
smoke, which will induce all to fill themselves with honey, and 
serve to give them the same scent. Remove the combs with the 
bees adhering and place them together in the same hive, leaving 
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