304 
SUMMER. 
with them. This drink may be used till dried up, 
occasionally adding a little water; perhaps it is better 
after fermenting. This recipe appeared some years 
ago in some paper ; I have forgotten where. Salt 
has been recommended to prevent the mischief of the 
worms, as well as a benefit to the bees. I used it 
pretty extensively for several years, as I thought 
without much benefit, and got tired. I then tried 
salting a part, and let the rest do entirely without, 
and found no difference in their prosperity. Since 
then, some ten years ago, I abandoned its use alto- 
gether, and succeed just as well. 
CHAPTER XX. 
MELTING DOWN OF COMBS. 
THE CAUSE. 
When extreme hot weather occurs immediately 
after the bees have been gathering from a plentiful 
harvest for two or three weeks, or even during the 
yield, the wax composing new combs is very liable to 
be softened, till they break loose from their fastenings 
and settle to the bottom. 
EFFECTS. 
Sometimes the injury is trifling, only a piece or two 
slipping down ; at other times the whole contents fall 
in a confused and broken mass, the weight pressing 
out the honey, and besmearing the bees, which in that 
situation creep out, and away, from the hive in every 
direction. 
