THE HONEY-BEE. 223 



sometimes found mixed with, or rather deposited 

 above, a layer of farina. Should it be wished, therefore, 

 to obtain a supply free from these imperfections, the 

 empty story which is added, may be placed above, 

 instead of below the original stock, and the honey will 

 thus be of a superior kind. This mode of operating is 

 called super-ing, in contra-distinction to nadir-ing.* 

 This practice of partial deprivation has never yet 

 become general, because it is liable to frequent failure, 

 even in improved hives, and because the full benefit 

 is not derived from it at the very commencement of 

 the system. The liability to failure, the first of the 

 objections stated, is owing in most instances, not to 

 the mode, but to the period of the operation. Ac- 

 cording to the too common practice of those who are 

 friendly to deprivation, a portion of honey is abstract- 

 ed from the hives about the beginning or middle of 

 September ; and the owner compliments himself on 

 his moderation in being content with a part instead 

 of the whole, and on his humanity in saving the lives 

 of his industrious favourites ; while in nine instances 

 out of ten, he finds, on the arrival of March, that his 

 moderation and humanity have been altogether un- 

 availing ; and that he has saved them from a violent 

 death by suffocation, only to expose them to the 

 more tardy, but not less cruel death, by starvation. 

 Whereas, if deprivation take place soon after the 

 swarming season, as already recommended, and is 

 managed with discretion, the issue will be very diffe- 



* Dr. Be van practises Nadir-ing only with young swarrae, 



and Super-ing with those of preceding years. 



