the upper hive, and to blow a few puffs of

smoke into the lower.

An operation of this kind should, as much as possible, be undertaken towards evening.

In winter, when all work in the hives has ceased, a small opening may safely be left in the top of the hives, in order to allow the escape of any exhalations from within. This should be more especially attended to when the ground is covered with snow, as it is often expedient at such a time to close the entrances altogether, in order to prevent the bees from leaving the hive and thereby perishing. This method of confinement, however, must be used with great moderation.

At the beginning of winter, we advise strongly that two, or even three, weak stocks should be joined together to make one strong one, care being taken to remove the queens from the comb before brushing the bees into the hive to which they are to be united.

By these means the fighting which would otherwise take place amongst the rival queens is avoided. If, at the same time, the bees are all sprinkled with syrup, and a puff or two of smoke blown amongst them, they will live together in

good harmony. It is advisable to effect this union at nightfall.

If, however, the bee-master is anxious to preserve hives in which neither honey nor bees abound, he should place them in a room. If the hive is one on improved principles, the empty comb should be taken out and filled with syrup poured into the cells. The comb should then be returned to the hive.

If the hive be made on the old principle, the syrup may either be poured into a small wooden trough, or else into some empty comb. This should be placed at the top of the hive, under a super or hive of some kind.

By adopting this method, we have preserved many weak stocks at a small cost compared to the value of the hive so treated.

The preservation of weak stocks may prove extremely useful in the spring; for even the most populous colonies are liable to lose their queens. In this case, the strongest hive may be preserved by joining it to a feeble stock in which the queen is in existence.

If your small stocks happen to be Ligurian, and the queen in a strong hive of black bees has died, by joining the small Italian swarm

to the large swarm of black bees, a strong hive of Italians will, in a short time, be the result, and from the hive thus formed, swarms may afterwards be made.* Italians, moreover, or a cross breed, are far more active than the black bees, and their produce is very nearly double.

In visiting hives, whether in autumn, during the second fortnight of October, or in spring, during the second fortnight of February, or the first fortnight of March, care should be taken not to abuse the right of possession by depriving the bees of too much honey; for it is necessary that a hive, to be in good condition, should contain at least 20 lbs. of honey at the end of October-that is to say, in ordinary seasons. In the last three years, 1871, 1872, and 1873, this quantity has not been sufficient to provide for the wants of strong stocks.

If a hive is in good condition in the spring, and still contains honey, that only which is

* A swarm made in 1869, from a single piece of comb containing Italian brood, and put at eleven o'clock a.m. in the place of a hive of black bees, gave me in 1870 a fine swarm and 20 lbs. of honey. The same hive gave me in 1871 two strong swarms and 50 lbs. of honey. The swarm of 1870 produced 30 lbs. of honey.

absolutely superfluous should be taken, otherwise the existence of the hive may be endangered by bad weather during the latter part of that

season.

When taking honey from the hives, it should be extracted from those combs which are in bad condition and unfit for the rearing of brood, whether perforated by the bees in order to remove the moth, or hardened by age, or attacked with mildew.

This latter contingency, however, should never occur, as mildew may always be prevented by adhering to the rules which have already been given above.

CHAPTER XV.

EXTRACTION OF THE HONEY-DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTRACTOR.

THE most favourable time for depriving a hive of its honey is that at which the bees are able to replace it. This is also the time when honey is in its most liquid state, and when the warmth facilitates its separation from the comb by means of the extractor.

When you wish to take honey from a hive, after having removed the bees, choose that comb which has least pollen in it—a fact which can be ascertained by holding it up to the light; the comb must then be placed on a closely platted wicker-basket, or on a sieve, and the back of a knife or the finger should then be passed over on each side without crushing it. It should then be placed in the extractor, and the honey, which will flow into the jar