";i887 



GLEAJ>41JNUS IJS BEE CUJLTUKE. 



249 



In order that our readers may get all the 

 the facts clearly before them, we take from 

 Dr. Miller's book. "■ A Year Among the 

 Bees," page 91. two paragraphs on this sub- 

 ject of taking sections out of the supers. 



To take out sections with this arrangement, I 

 place it in front cf me on the table — no fastening- is 

 necessary— so that the bo.\ inside the hive-cover 

 shall be nearest to that side of the hive-cover which 

 is next to me, and the end of the box which comes 

 nearest the end of the hive-cover shall be at my left 

 hand. The bearing-board is now put in place, and 

 pushed tight in the left-hand corner. The super 

 full of sections is placed on the bearing-board and 

 crowded close to the left-hand corner. 1 now lean 

 forward, throwing the weight of my body partly 

 upon the super, and pressing with the left fore-arm 

 upon the end and opposite side. Then with the 

 closed list of the right hand I strike upon the fur- 

 ther corner of the super at the right hand. This 

 breaks the attachments of the sections at this cor- 

 ner, and then I strike upou the different parts of 

 the super so as to get it started all around. Then 



natural look to it. From its appearance we 

 judge that- it has seen a good deal of .service, 

 and no doubt its owner considers it, ill sha- 

 jjen though it be, one of the necessaiy ad- 

 juncts to the apiary. Furthermore, I am 

 sure our readers will be pleased to see you 

 with your old clothes on and in your shirt- 

 sleeves. I had a great deal rather take a 

 look at a friend when he is full of business, 

 and attending to his every-day duties, than 

 to see him all dressed up nice and slick, 

 just as the photographer fixed liim. All 

 those who have seen Dr. Miller, I think will 

 agree that the picture is a good one. There 

 is nothing like having every thing arranged 

 within arm's reach. Unnecessary steps and 

 unnecessary movements, as is sliown in an- 

 other column, cost bee-keepers a good many 

 dollars. You see. Dr. Millei- has directly iii 

 front of him one of his be;iring-boards 



DK. MILLEK, AND HIS MANNER OF EMPTYINCJ THE T SUTEK. 



putting a hand on each eud of the super, I push it 

 evenly down and let it drop in the hive-cover. The 

 bearing-board is lifted out with its load of sections, 

 and the now empty super is also lifted out. 



It is often better, perhaps always, to run a case- 

 knife around so as to cut through the propolis that 

 may fasten the upper part of the sections to the 

 super. The list will become sore if used for much 

 pounding, so 1 use a heavy hatchet or hand ax. 

 With this it is not necessary to strike heavily, 

 whereas a liuht hatchet must be struck so hard that 

 it wo\ild iiiai- the super and not start the sections so 

 easily It is important to bear down upon the su- 

 per while striking. 



Friend Miller, you have followed our in- 

 structions to the letter. We wanted you to 

 look just exactly as you appear when you 

 are at work emptying the T super. Pho- 

 tography, assisted by good engraving, is 

 true to life. I think we all agree, that one 

 of the special attractions of the picture is 

 that old hat shown on the left ; it has aveiy 



which he will place on the box inside of the 

 hive cover, as soon as the other has lieen 

 carried away with its load of sections. At 

 his right are the supers ready to be emptied; 

 at his left are the empty super-shells, all in 

 arm's reach. 



Xow right here, Dr. Miller, I want to ask 

 if it would not be possible for you to sim- 

 plify your device for emptying the T super. 

 VVIiy not dispense with the hive cover? I 

 kniiw there is an advantage in having it, as 

 it guides the T super so "that it will come 

 squarely on to the bearing-board without 

 any hitching or catching. I believe you 

 state this as a reason in your book ; but is 

 this advantage of enough "importance to the 

 l)ee-keepers at large for them to go to the 

 extra expense of the hive-cover, or some- 

 thing similar to it, to assist in emptying a 



