PRUNING Co MBS. 
43 
can they rear so many bees. What resources arc spent in 
one direction prevent their expenditure in another. One 
person will remark: “My bees did but little good last season ; 
they swarmed a good deal, but made but little honey.” 
Auother says: “Mine made me a great deal ot houey, but 
yielded no swarms.” If one of my hives yields me a great 
deal of honey, and another gives me several swarms, I do not 
object, but give them credit for being alike good. 
WHEN TO PRUNE. 
To break out the combs containing young bees, especially 
in the spring of the year, would be reckless waste. They 
could be broken out in November after breeding is over, but 
this is objectionable, because the combs broken out are just 
what is wanted by the bees to hover in during winter. It 
could be done a little better in March, but the bees still need 
it to hover in, besides there would still be considerable brood 
in the combs that should be broken out, and you must nut 
dare to waste so essential a part of the colony at this time of 
year. 
The only remaining time in the year that will do, is twenty- 
one days after the hive has given off a swarm. livery thing 
considered, this seems to bo the best time. The young bees 
will then be all hatched out of the combs, except perhaps 
some drones; and it is no loss if some of these are destroyed, 
aud there will be but few if any fresh eggs laid by the new 
queen. 
HOW TO PROCEED. 
Blow some smoke under the hive to subdue tbc bees. In- 
vert the hive. Blow more smoke among the bees to drive 
them down off the combs that are to be taken out. Then 
proceed to cut or break out those parts of the combs that 
have been occupied by young bees. The rest of the combs 
in the bottom, as the hive now stands, and a little at the sides 
being filled with honey need not be touohed. If the bees are 
too numerous to admit of getting the combs out whilst they 
are in when the hive is inverted, set an empty one on it and 
tie a sheet around where the hives meet, if you are afraid 
they will get out aud sting you (although there is less 
