PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF BOXES. 173 
is full of honey ; it may be full of bees, and not of 
honey. And yet the only rule that I can give to be gen- 
erally applied, is, when the bees begin to be crowded 
out, but a day or two before would be just the right 
time, that is, when they are obtaining honey — (for it 
should be remembered that they do not always get 
honey when beginning to cluster out). This guide 
will do in place of a better one, which close observa- 
tion and experience only can give. By observing a 
glass hive attentively, in those cells that touch the 
glass on the edge of the combs, whenever honey is 
being deposited here abundantly, it is quite evident 
that the flowers are yielding it just then, and other 
stocks are obtaining it also. Now is the time, if any 
cluster out, to put on the boxes. When boxes are 
made as I have recommended, that is, the size con- 
taining 360 solid inches, it is advisable to put on only 
one at first ; when this is full either of bees or hone}', 
and yet bees are crowded outside, the other can be 
added. This is before swarming ; too much room 
might retard the swarming a few days, but if 
crowded outside, it indicates want of room, and the 
boxes can make but little difference. It is better to 
have one box well filled than two half full, which 
might be the case if the bees were not numerous. The 
object of putting on boxes before swarming, is to 
employ a portion of the bees, that otherwise would 
remain idly clustering outside two or three weeks, as 
they often do, while preparing the young queens for 
swarming. But when all the bees can be profitably 
