492 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



certain tendencies. 

 That is undoubtedly 

 true; but much can be 

 done as to fitness, be- 

 fore the world's eyes, 

 by training in the right 

 direction. One must 

 do work constantly in 

 the right way until it 

 becomes almost an in- 

 voluntary act with 

 him. 



Fig. 1 illustrates my 

 favorite position when 

 examining a hive. The 

 cover is taken for a 

 seat. There is a cover 

 for every Mve. It 

 should be convenient, 

 and it should be just 

 the right height. Each 

 hive should have a 

 quilt or honey-board 

 under the cover. I be- 

 lieve that, in the Unit- 

 ed States, this is quite 

 often not the case. 

 There is one other position which I some- 

 times assume, but only when I am very 

 tired — "played out;" but, on account of 

 pressure of work, I cannot afford to stop 

 working; that position is to get down on 

 my knees by the .side of the hive; but that 

 is not a good position under normal condi- 

 tions. 



Fig. 2. — Raise the 

 position. 



Fig. 3. — Twirl the comb with the top-bar as a pivot, tlie comb beiii 

 supported by the end-bar. 



end in the left hand, bringing the frame to a vertical 



"With the elbows resting on the knees, as 

 in Fig. 1, the weight of the comb is sup- 

 ported by the knees, and relieves the arms 

 during examination. After the one side of 

 the comb has been examined (note the top- 

 bar on the upper side), to examine the 

 other side I have a regular circling and 

 sweeping movement of the comb to bring to 

 view the other side. In 

 no case is the comb to 

 be held flat as in Fig. 

 6. 



In hot weather a 

 heavy comb will break 

 out when so held, even 

 if it is fairly well 

 wired. If the comb is 

 not wired and not well 

 fastened at the bottom 

 and at the ends, it is 

 almost sure to break 

 out. If the reader will 

 take a comb in his 

 hand, make a circling 

 motion, following 2, 3, 

 4, and 5, he will get 

 ray method of turning 

 a comb. In Fig. 5 he 

 will see the comb with 

 the top-bar at the bot- 

 tom. When possible 

 the sun should be be- 

 hind the one manipu- 

 lating the hive, allow- 

 ing its rays to strike 



