178 
SUMMER. 
TIME TAKEN TO FILL A BOX. 
Two weeks is the shortest time I ever had any filled 
and finished. This, of course, depends on the yield 
of honey, and size of the swarm ; three or four weeks 
are usually taken for the purpose. I have before said 
that the first yield of honey nearly fails in this section, 
usually about the 20th of July ; there are some varia- 
tions, later or earlier, according to the season. In 
other places it may be much later. 
WHEN TO TAKE OFF BOXES PART FULL. 
It can be ascertained by occasionally raising the 
cover to your glass boxes. When no more is being 
added, all boxes that are worth the trouble should be 
taken off ; if left longer the comb gets darker, and 
such cells of honey as are not sealed over, (and some- 
times the majority are such,) the bees generally remove 
down into the hive. 
TOBACCO SMOKE PREFERRED TO SLIDES. 
When boxes are to be taken off, if a slide of tin, 
zinc, &c., is used to close the holes, some of the bees 
are apt to be crushed, others will find themselves 
minus a head, leg, or abdomen, and all of them be ir- 
ritable for several days. A little tobacco smoke is 
preferable, as it keeps all quiet. Just raise the box 
to be taken off sufficient to puff under it some smoke, 
and the bees will leave the vicinity of the holes in an 
instant; the box can then be removed, and another 
put on if necessary, without exciting their anger in 
the least. 
