But one of the greatest difficulties which overtake a
bee-master well up in the profitable management of his
stock, is when all his hives become too heavy for keeping.
Some seasons his second swarms and turnouts and old
stock-hives will rise in weight to 70, 80, and 100 Ib.
each, and first swarms will go 30 Ib. or 40 1b. beyond
that weight. When this happens, both the season and
the locality are favourable for honey-gathering. Well,
what should be done with such heavy hives? Put them
all down for honey and honeycomb. The profits in such
seasons are very great. But if all the hives are put down
for honey there will be none for stock. Stop a little.
There are three ways of keeping up the number of stock-
hives and yet getting honey from all the hives,


STOCK-HIVES, 175


1. One is to drive the bees out of the heavy hives
before the honey season ends, and put two swarms into
an empty hive. A few days of honey weather will enable
the bees to fill their new hive with combs, but there will
be a proportionate loss of honey by interfering with heavy
hives before the season is over. When two swarms are
thus united, the oldest queen should be destroyed before
the union takes place.
2. The second way is to select the proper number of
stocks from these heavy hives, and greatly reduce them
in weight by freely using the comb-knife in cutting out
20 lb. of honey or more from each hive, and uniting the
bees of those that are wholly put down to them.
