264 
SUMMER. 
longer than three weeks, the young queen will so Sll 
the combs again as to make it a serious loss. There- 
fore, I wish to urge strongly attention to this point 
at the proper season. If you think it unimportant to 
mark the date of your first swarms for the purposes 
mentioned in another place, it will be found very con- 
venient here, for those that need pruning. 
It is also recommended by some, to take only a 
part, say one-third or half, in a season ; thereby taking 
two or three years to renew the combs. This is ad- 
visable only when the family is very small. As this 
space made by pruning cannot be filled without wax 
and labor, our surplus honey will be proportionate to 
its extent. Now suppose we take out half the old 
combs, and get half a yield of box honey this year, 
and the same next, or make a full operation of it and 
get none this year, and a full one next. What is 
the difference ? There is none in point of honey, but 
some in trouble, and that is in favor of a full opera- 
tion at once. We have to go through with about the 
same trouble to get one-third or half as to take the 
whole. 
OBJECTION TO PRUNING. 
The objection to this mode of renewing combs 
generally, will be the fear of getting stung. But I 
can assure you there is but little danger, not as much 
as to walk among the hives in a warm day. Only 
begin right, use the smoke, and work carefully, with- 
out pinching them, and you will escape unhurt gen- 
erally. 
