822 
FALL MANAGEMENT. 
rately, is a very important principle in this matter. 
If each family should have fifteen pounds of honey, 
they would consume it all, and probably starve at last, 
after eating thirty pounds. But if the contents of 
both were in one hive, it would be amply sufficient, 
and some to spare in the spring. 
UNITING COMB AND HONEY AS WELL AS BEES. 
The process of uniting them is simple. Smoke 
both the stocks or swarms thoroughly, and turn them 
over. Choose the one with the straightest combs, or 
the one nearest full, to receive the contents of the 
other ; trim off the points of the combs to make them 
square across, and this one is ready ; remove the sticks 
from the other, and with your tools take out the 
combs with the bees on as before directed, one at a 
time, and carefully set them on the edges of the other ; 
if the shape will admit it, let the edges match ; if not, 
let them cross. Small bits of wood or rolls of paper 
will be needed between them, to preserve the right 
distance. When both hives are of one size, the trans- 
ferred combs will exactly fit, if you are careful to 
place them as they were before. You will now want 
to know, “ what is to prevent these combs from falling 
out when the hive is turned over?” This hive is to 
remain bottom up in some dark place for some time, 
or till spring. (See method of wintering bees.) The 
bees will immediately join these combs fast ; the hive 
being inverted, the honey in these combs will be con- 
sumed first ; and when the hive is again set out in 
spring, it will be a rare occurrence for any pieces to 
