41

THE HONEY BEE IN NEW ZEALAND 39

ratus, as has been described above, the stillness that reigns
in the hive indicates that the bees are in a state of insensi-
bility, the hive may then be turned up for any necessary
operations. If honey is wanted, choose the side combs, so
as not to interfere with the brood in the centre, and be
moderate. Replace the violated hive carefully, and the
bees will soon recover from their state of partial intoxica-
tion, and set to work to repair the ravages that have been
made in their stores.
We have always been in the habit, when taking honey,
by cutting out the comb, to operate after sundown; but
Mr. Cotton says, the time fit for the operation, should be
the middle of a sunshiny calm day, between eleven and
twelve, when the number of workers who are abroad is
greatest; you will so be in less danger of crushing a
number of bees as you cut out the combs; besides, if it is
later, such bees as may be daubed with honey will not
have time to get themselves set to rights by their fellows.
In very hot weather take your honey still earlier in the
day; for the noontide heat makes the wax so soft, that it
is difficult to handle the combs without spoiling them. A
damp, cold day, or one when showers may be expected,
should not be chosen, as those bees which fall to the
ground will be chilled; but some of my pupils may say,
how am I to know when my bees have honey to spare?
If they are in hives of the candle-box construction, you
cannot look in upon them as you may in properly made
boxes, which are furnished with windows. But you have
their weight to guide you. It is a very good plan to
weigh each of your hives and bottom boards before you
put bees into them. Mark the weight on the outside, and
then simple subtraction at any time will give you the
weight of the contents. Even if you have not as yet taken
this precaution, you may give a tolerable guess by lifting
it a little in your hand, bottom board and all, just before
sundown.
In the autumn and winter, when the breeding season is
over, the weight of the box will give you the actual weight
of honey and comb more nearly than in spring and summer.
In the latter seasons, a great part of a heavy hive is filled
with brood.