64 
AN EASY METHOD OF 
them as explained in remarks on Ilule 2. 
Bees, when placed in a dark room in the 
upper part of the liousfe, or some out-house, 
are easily kept (not cultivated) a while, and 
may be of some benefit to their owner; but 
as they are liable to most of the casualties 
that swarming hives are, they cannot be as 
profitable. It takes several years before 
much comfort, other than the amusement of 
seeing them work, can be realized ; besides, 
if they chance to escape the moth, the combs 
arc rendered exceeding dark colored and 
filthy where the bees locate in the winter; 
and a disagreeable smell, which is caused by 
their winter breath and other exhaltations, is 
the result. In a few years the bees acquire 
habits of indolence, and as a natural conse- 
quence, soon manifest it by their irritability, 
unlike those colonies which are industrious 
and in a healthy and prosperous condition. 
Large colonics never increase their stock 
in proportion to the swarming colonies. There 
is but one femaliS in a large colony, and they 
can do but little more in raising young bees 
than to keep their stock good by replenishing 
