PRUNING. 
265 
STOCKS PRUNED NOW ARE BETTER FOR WINTER. 
Besides the advantage of saving a large brood by 
pruning at this season, such stocks will usually refill 
before fall, and are much better for wintering, which 
is not the case when it is done later. Wb must of 
necessity then waste the brood, and have a large space 
unoccupied with combs through the winter. But few 
combs can then be made, and those few must be at 
the expense of their winter stores, unless we resort to 
feeding. 
These objections apply with greater force to pruning 
in March or April. The loss of brood is of much more 
consequence now, than in mid-summer, or even later, 
and a space to be filled with combs is a serious dis- 
advantage. It is important that the bees should de- 
vote their whole attention now to rearing brood, and 
be ready to cast their swarms as early as possible. 
One early swarm is worth two late ones. Suppose a 
stock, instead of collecting food and nursing its young, 
is compelled to expend its honey and labor in secret- 
ing wax and constructing combs before it can proceed 
with breeding advantageously, it must of necessity be 
some weeks later. 
Further, I have always found it best to have the 
bees out of the way, during this operation. It will 
be found much more difficult to drive the bees out of 
a hive in the cool weather of March or April, than in 
summer, as they seem unwilling to shift their warm 
quarters and go into a cold hive. 
It is presumed the reader will bear in mind the dis- 
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