her, in ignorance that their own proper sovereign has been perhaps already put hors de combat by the subjects of the other; and, in such a case, the ruin of the whole community will be the ultimate consequence, because at this season there are no eggs nor larvæ, nor males, wherewith to repair the disaster. It is safer, therefore, to search for, and remove the queen of the swarm that has been dislodged, and is to be "married," before the union takes place; she will with little difficulty be discovered and laid hold of in a hive without comb.
The hives denuded of the bees, being now carried into the house, the process of extracting the honey from the combs must commence immediately, while it retains its natural warmth. It will then flow freely, and if there is a fire in the apartment where the operation is carried on, the work will be greatly facilitated. As it is of much importance in preserving the fine flavour of the honey, that it should be exposed as little as possible to the external air, the mode of manipulation pointed out by Bonner, and repeated after him by other writers, cannot be commended. The following is the kind of apparatus we have made use of for a great many years, and find to answer well. (Pl. XIII. fig. 1.) It consists of a tin vessel of an oval shape, (having a spigot at the bottom,) 18 inches long, 7 broad, and 5 deep. Resting upon this, is another vessel of the same shape, and just so much smaller that its under edge slips within the other to the extent of an inch, and is prevented from sinking farther by a raised beading. The bottom
