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Preparation for Comb-Honey in Sections. 



In regard to comb-hone):, the preparation commences with the 

 fitting of the wax foundation in the section boxes. To ensure a well 

 worked out section this should be cut so as just to clear the sides of 

 the box and hang to within one-sixteenth of an inch of the bottom, 

 thus allowing for a slight stretching of the foundation caused by the 

 heat of the bees clustering on its surface. The fitted boxes must 

 next be placed in the section rack, with separators between the rows, 

 reaching to within three-eighths of an inch of the top and bottom, 

 and wedged up perfectly square and tight ; this is important, for the 

 bees will place propolis over every crack or small space, causing 

 disfigurement and extra work in cleaning ; also sections " out of 

 square " are much more liable to breakage when packed for travelling, 

 owing to the unavoidable spaces between them. The rack must be 

 placed perfectly level on a hive containing a strong colony of bees, if 

 will then be filled with good, straight, and even combs. 



Removing Filled Racks. 



Removing filled racks from the hives should be done with as 

 little disturbance to the bees as possible : the best method is to place 

 a " super-clearer " on a stool or box by the side of the hive, raise up 

 the bottom edge of the rack and insert a small wedge : puff a little 

 smoke between the rack and tops of the frames, then remove the 

 rack steadily with a screwing motion, and put it down gently on the 

 " super-clearer"; then place a cloth, on which a few drops of carbolic 

 acid have been sprinkled, over the top of the frames. In about ten 

 seconds remove the cloth, and it will be found that the bees have 

 been driven down, leaving the tops clear ; then immediately take up 

 the rack with the " super-clearer " and place them on the frames. 

 li this operation is carried out in the afternoon, by next morning 

 every bee will have found its way down to the body of the hive 

 through the bee-escape in the centre of the "super-clearer," and the 

 rack can be removed with comfort to the bee-keeper and without 

 disturbance to the apiary. 



The full racks should be carried into a bee-proof room, the 

 wedges and back-board removed, and the centre section of the 

 exposed row taken out. Do not attempt to lift it straight out, the 

 result would probably be a damaged section, but tilt it backward on 

 its bottom edge, and when loosened it will come away easily, as also 

 will the two side ones. Sort the sections as they are taken out, 

 putting all well-filled clear ones as the first grade; those not well 

 worked to bottom and sides, and therefore not fit for travelling, make 

 a second grade, and any only partially filled must be given back to the 

 bees to finish, unless the " honey-flow" has ceased, and in that event 

 they must be emptied by the extractor. Carefully scrape all propolis 

 from the edges of the sections and, if not already sold, store them in 

 a dry, warm cupboard, protecting them from dust by tying in 

 packages of four or six in clean paper ; be very careful not to place 

 anything having a strong odour near the honeycomb, or it will spoil 

 the flavour. 



PACKING. 



If the sections are sold to wholesale dealers for re-sale to traders, 

 no further preparation is needed. To pack them so as to travel safely, 



