172 
SOMMER. 
CHAPTER XI. 
PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF BOSES. 
Putting on boxes may be considered a duty inter- 
mediate between spring and summer management. 1 
cannot recommend putting them on as early as the 
last of April, or first of May, in ordinary circumstan- 
ces. It is possible to find a case that it would be best. 
But before the hive is full of bees it is generally use- 
less, very likely a disadvantage, by allowing a portion 
of animal heat to escape that is needed in the hive to 
mature the brood. Also, moisture may accumulate 
until the inside moulds, &c. Some experience and 
judgment is necessary to know about what time 
boxes are needed. That boxes are needed at the 
proper season, I think I shall not need an argument 
to convince any one, in the present day. Bee-keepers 
have generally discarded the barbarous practice of 
killing the bees to obtain the honey. Many of them 
have learned that a good swarm will store sufficient 
honey for winter, besides several dollars worth as 
profit in boxes. 
ADVANTAGE OF #I1E PATENT VENDER. 
Here is where the patent vender has taken the ad- 
vantage of our ignorance, by pretending that no other 
hive but his ever obtained such quantities , or so pure in 
quality. 
TIME OF PUTTING ON RULE. 
It is probable a great many readers will need the 
necessary observation to tell precisely when the hive 
