early in the season. Important Query. Both Dzierzon and myself
think that we have improved the Italian bees by careful breeding. Have we
not lost as much or more by close breeding as we have gained by selection. 
I presume that we have. For this reason I value so highly the new importations. 
Caught a just fecundated queen, had a large white mass adhering which
came off leaving the threadlike protuberance so often seen. Color of
workers. Just hatched when pure have a whitish look. Black robbers
swarm around me when I manipulate, dare to light on my fingers. 
Your time is short. You are a damned race. I am increasingly
in favor of the Ligurian race. Very important. How to get bees
to [crossed out: repair] fill up holes in old combs. Have noticed how bees allow
holes in old comb to remain unfilled, even when they are actively comb
building. Mr. R. C. Otis suggested last week that they found it very
difficult to attach new comb to the old cocoons or lining of cells. 
I at once suggested waxing the entire surface. Early on the 4th, I cut
out a square of brood from a Ligurian colony. Gave the mutilated
comb to a strong stock. This AM, saw no attempt to repair it,
although comb was placed centrally. With a feather coated the
edges with melted wax, this PM, to my delight the bees had
begun well to work their comb for the [illegible]. This very important. 
Makes auld claes look amaist as weel's the new, for claes
really combs. Now in partly filling frames can bees to continue the
work, wax the edge. Wax the edge. 
This difficulty about attaching will cause bees not to fill up winter
slot in combs not new. (10th) 76 to 86 degrees. A good shower. Cannot remember
ever such weather at this season, for a week or more the mercury has not been
below 74 degrees or on my window above 86 degrees. (Under tree marks 4 degrees higher)
Heat and moisture have reigned supreme. (11th) 76 to 86 degrees. A good shower. 
Nucleus forming. Find it very convenient with my four box nucleus
to make four nuclei at once. Set box on sheet, having combs all right
shake bees on sheet before the four entrances. May be shut up and if
covered with a sheet need not be taken into cellar, made where to
stand. This the perfection of nucleus forming. Keep every nucleus at
time of formation and all along, in a natural state, that is with
honey, pollen, brood and bees of different ages. Do not remember