occasionally in Winter? 352

CHAPTER XXIII.

SAGACITY OF BEES.

Are not Bees directed alone by instinct? 353
What they do with Propolis, 353
Mending broken Combs, 354
Making passages to every part of their Combs, 355

CHAPTER XXIV.

STRAINING HONEY AND WAX.

Methods of removing Combs from the Hive, 357
Different modes of straining Honey, 358
Getting out Wax--different methods, 360

CHAPTER XXV.

PURCHASING STOCKS AND TRANSPORTING BEES.

Why the word luck is applied to Bees, 362
Rule in taking Bees for a share, 364
A man may sell his "luck," 364
First-rate stocks recommended to begin with, 365
Old stocks are good as any if healthy, 365
Caution respecting diseased brood, 366
Result of ignorance in purchasing, 366
Size of Hives important, 367
How large Hives can be made smaller, 368
Moderate weather best to remove Bees, 369
Preparations for transporting Bees, 370
Securing Bees in the Hive, 370
Best Conveyance, 370
Hive to be inverted, 371
Conclusion, 372

PREFACE.

Before the reader decides that an apology is necessary for the
introduction of another work on bees into the presence of those already
before the public, it is hoped that he will have the patience to
examine the contents of this.

The writer of the following pages commenced beekeeping in 1828, without
any knowledge of the business to assist him, save a few directions
about hiving, smoking them with sulphur, &c. Nearly all the information
to be had was so mingled with erroneous whims and notions, that it
required a long experience to separate essential and consistent points.
It was _impossible_ to procure a work that gave the information
necessary for practice. From that time to the present, no sufficient
guide for th