180 
SUMMER. 
opening to let the bees out ; in the course of the day 
they will sometimes all leave ; but this method I have 
found unsafe, as they sometimes find the way back. 
When a large number of boxes are to be managed, 
a more expeditious mode is, to have a large box with 
close joints, or an empty hogshead, or a few barrels 
with one head out, set in some convenient place ; put 
the boxes in, one above another, but not in a manner 
to stop the holes ; over the top throw a sheet of one 
thickness, a thin one is best, as it will let through 
more light. The bees will leave the boxes, creep to 
the top, and get on the sheet ; take this off and turn 
it over a few times ; in this way all may be got rid of 
without the possibility of carrying off much honey. 
All that know the way will return to the hive, but a 
few young ones are lost. 
NOT DISPOSED TO STING. 
They seldom offer to sting during this part of the 
operation, even when the box is taken off without 
tobacco smoke, and carried away from the hive; after 
a little time, the bees finding themselves away from 
home, lose all animosity. 
As honey becomes scarce, less brood is reared ; a 
great many cells that they occupied are soon empty : 
also, several cells that contained honey have been 
drained, and used to mature the portion of brood 
just started at the time of the failure. We can now 
understand, or think we do, why our best stocks that 
are very heavy, that but a few days before were crowd- 
ed for room and storing in boxes, are now eager for 
