PRUNING COMBS. 
43 
As it costs bees a good deal to make comb, save it as long 
as possible. The means and energy expended by bees 
in making combs detraot from the amount of honey and bees 
produced. Colonies that expend much of their energies in 
producing bees cannot yield so much honey or combs ; nor if 
they spend themselves in making combs and storing honey 
can they rear so many bees. What resources are 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.” An 
other says : “Mine made me a great deal of honey, 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 a reckless waste. They 
could he 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 not 
dare to waste so essential a part of the colony at this time of 
year. 
The only remaining time of the year that will do, is twenty- 
one days after the hive has given off a swarm. Every thing 
considered, this seems to be the best time. The young bees 
will then be all hatched out of their combs, except perhaps 
some drones ; and it is no loss if some of these are destroyed, 
and there will be but few if any fresh eggs laid by tbe new 
queen. 
HOW TO PROCEED. 
Blow some smoke under the hive to subdue the 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 
