this hive two or three days, visit
them, and very politely inform them that the full frames were intended
as a loan, and not as a gift; and that having served to set them an
example how they should work, you must now have them to teach other
young swarms the same useful lesson; and that the new combs which they
have built with such admirable regularity, are beautiful patterns for
the empty ones which you must give them. In this way, the same combs may
be made to answer for many successive swarms.

Drone combs should never be attached to the frames as a guide, unless it
is desired to have the bees follow the pattern, and build large ranges
of drone comb, to breed a vast horde of useless consumers. Such comb, if
white, may be used to great advantage in the surplus honey-boxes; if old
and discolored, it should be melted for wax. I am now engaged in a
course of experiments, which I hope, will enable me to dispense with the
necessity of guide-combs for my frames, as they are sometimes difficult
to be procured by those who have just commenced bee-keeping. As a
general thing, however, every one, after a few weeks' experience, may
have enough and to spare, for such purposes. Every piece of good
worker-comb, if large enough to be attached to a frame, should be used
both for its intrinsic value, and because bees are so wonderfully
pleased when they find such unexpected treasures in a hive, that they
will seldom desert it. A new swarm has been known to take possession of
an old hive without any occupants, but well stored with comb. Though
dozens of empty hives may be in the Apiary, they never unless under such
circumstances, enter a hive, of their own accord. It might seem as
though an instinct impelling them to do so, would have been a most
admirable one, and so doubtless, it may seem to some that it would have
been much better for man, if the earth had only brought forth
spontaneously all things requisite for the support of man and beast,
without any necessity for the sweat of the brow. The first and last
frames in my hive, are placed about a quarter of an inch from the ends,
and the others just half an inch apart. When first put in, it will be
advisable to attach them slightly with a very little glue or melted wax,
to keep them in their places, until they are fastened with propolis, by
the bees. The rubbing of hives with various kinds of herbs or washes,
has always seemed to me, useless, and often positively injurious. There
ou