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the name of dropt-honey into just discredit. It is now commonto sell the whole in the combs, and to keep and use it in thatway: but an old hive never answers for this purpose, the combsbeing dark and dirty.
< With a view to get honey, and yet save the bees, the re-porter (in a lucky season) tried an experiment, fie sufferedthe hives to cast one swarm each, and then waited until theyappeared crowded with numbers and heat, and ready to throw asecond swarm. But, instead of suffering this to happen, themouth was closed by a soft gauze, or muslin or silk handkerchief,tied all round, in order to prevent egress at night, when allwere in, and the centinels at the door. A hole was, then cutout of the top, from three to five inches diameter, and the piecebeing neatly and quickly turned out by the knife, a new andempty hive wa3 placed on the top, and secured with some wood-en pins. The handkerchief was then removed ; and, after somestir, the bees, finding an upper story, began in the must ardentmanner to fill it with combs and honey, which was soon accom-plished by their numerous and united forces. In September thepins were softly taken out, the top removed, and the piece thathad been cut out (enlarged with two rows of straw work) laidon above, like an inverted plate, pinned down, and plasteredover, the hive being left quite full of bees, combs, and honey.In this top the finest combs and purest honey possible werefound, without a single particle of dark comb, or bee-bread, orany such thing as young bees, or their cells. And, as not manyscores of bees were found in it, there was no difficulty in re-moving them, and, of course, they went back into the hive.This operation was ventured on with five different hives the firstyear; and the fine top honey found above each was in propor-tion to the time which the bees had in order to collect. Thehive that was done in the first days of July was quite full at thet0 P! and the others contained less and less in proportion, downto the latest period of the operation, being about the end ofJuly. The Contents of the tops (in the purest honey ever seen)were 22 lib., II lib., 11 lib., 7 lib., and 6 lib.: and all the hive*left, prospered next year.
‘ The produce of one hive, in that year, was aS under, viz—Two swarms, which filled their respective hives ; and the firstrid on 22 lib. of top-honey after filling, the second only 7 lib. ;“Of the parent hive laid on 11 lib. of top-honey after casting‘wice. Now, if the swarms be valued in their full hives at 2/,.each, and the 40 lib. of pure top-honey at Is. per lib. (which arejeuch below the real value), the produce, from one breeding-hiv ( e > was in all 61 .
But that season was uncommonly fine; and the success of‘his method has been very far inferior since that year. In someseasons a little fine top-honey has been obtained; but in bad
Tot. n. y