It sometimes happens, that the queen will ascend into the cape to deposit her eggs, when she has not room in the interior; therefore, should any brood-comb happen to be in it when it is intended to be removed, let it be replaced until such time as the young are completely hatched. The brood-comb is easily distinguished: the cells that contain it have their covers darker, more raised, and much thicker, than those that contain honey, the covers of which are white, flat, and very thin.
There is no fixed rule for the time of removing the capes; it must altogether depend on the abundance of the honey. In six years, there are usually two bad, two good, and two middling seasons.
In bad seasons there is nothing to take away; on the contrary, some must be given, or, properly speaking, be lent to them, for the industrious bees always repay three, four, and five fold interest on the advances that are made them.
In good years, the capes may be emptied three or four times; and unless this be done the bees will build their combs on the outside.
In middling seasons, strong and well provisioned hives fill at least one cape, which may be taken without remorse, if they have not swarmed. I seldom or never take any from those that have swarmed, because they are thereby very much weakened. Good sense must here direct the proprietor.
The only fixed rule which can be laid down is, never to take the capes that are not quite filled, unless the hive happens to be very large, as there is always abundance of honey when the labourers determine to go to work in the capes. But beware of taking half-filled capes from small or middling sized hives: restitution will repair but a small portion of the evil this will do them.
CHAPTER XI.
HOW TO EXPEL THE BEES FROM THE CAPES.
It is in the heat of the day that the honey should be taken from the capes. A number of bees will always be found (commissioned no doubt) to guard the treasure.
Various methods are resorted to, to expel them without smoking. Some carry the cape to a distance from the apiary, turn it upside down, rest it on the ground, and cover it with a napkin, leaving on one side a space of about a finger-length uncovered, to allow an exit to the bees, which, escaping by this opening, return to their habitation; and, to hasten their departure, some one knocks, from time to time, on the outside.