290 
THE HIVE ANI) HONEY-BEE. 
No metallic slides are needed for removing surplus 
honey-boxes. By blowing smoke into them, before they 
are taken off, most of the bees will retreat to the main 
hive, and, if removed early in the morning, or late in the 
afternoon, and placed on a sheet fastened to the hive, the 
bees, attracted by the hum of their companions, will 
speedily leave them, but not until they have swallowed 
all that they can hold. When gorged, they are very 
reluctant to fly, and this is the reason they are so long in 
leaving when boxes are carried from the hive. The 
sooner the bees are driven from them the better, and care 
must be taken to protect them from robbers, who would 
soon carry their contents to their own hives. If any of the 
frames contain brood, they may be returned to the bees. 
Should the queen be in the box, many bees will refuse to 
leave it until she is returned to the hive. 
(3rd.) Glass vessels, of almost any size or form, make 
beautiful receptacles for the spare honey; they should 
have a piece of comb fastened in them, and should be 
covered with something warm if the weather is cool.* 
(4th.) If small boxes are used for surplus honey, the ono 
shown in Plate X., Fig. 24, the dimensions of which are 
given in the Explanation of Hives, will probably be found 
the simplest, cheapest, and best.f 
To remove surplus honey stored in small receptacles, 
• Honey, etored In tumblers just largo enough to receive ono comb, may bo 
placed In an elegant form upon the table. While all small receptacles waste the 
time of the bees, the shallow cells, so many of which must be made In any oylin. 
driaal vessel, require as largo a consumption of time anil materials for their covers 
and bottoms ns those which hold more than twico as much honey. 
t Such a box, which should bo furnished either with guides or piccos of comb, 
will hold three store-combs, weighing together over four pounds, nnd, by removing 
a glass, one may be cut out without disturbing the others. 
If all the joints of a box are made air-tight by a molted mixture of wax nnd resin, 
the bees will be saved much labor in stopping them with propolis; nnd, when the 
entrance Is closed and covered with tno same mixture, the honey may bo trans- 
ported without loakngo, oven If tho combs are brokon. Boxes containing honey 
should bo very curofully packed, and lifted without tho slightest jarring. 
