OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



GETTING BEES INTO SECTIONS. 



The crowded hive or brood-chamber, with no intent to 

 swarm, the wide spaces between sections, and a rich harvest 

 of nectar will usually send the bees into the sections with a 

 rush. If they refuse to go, sections with comb, a little drone- 

 brood, or the exchange of sections temporarily from above to 

 the brood-nest, or the moving of a brood-frame up beside the 

 sections for a short time, as before described, will frequently 

 start the bees into the sections. Some apiarists will have their 

 cases with sections so made that they can be placed between 

 the brood-frames till the bees commence to work in the sec- 

 tions ; others accomplish the same end by inverting the frames. 

 Sections filled with foundation— only very thin foundation 

 should be used in sections — are more attractive to the worker- 

 bees. I find that a few sections full of comb in the section- 

 case very greatly aid to tempt the bees to work in the sections. 

 "We often may gain our point by taking a case of sections, bees 

 and all, from a hive whose "bees are working in the sections, 

 and giving them to the reluctant colony. Or we may gain the 

 same end by giving the bees a one-half story or case of 

 extracting-combs. The bees may enter these at once, when 

 we may raise them and add our section-cases. Later these 

 half-story extracting-combs may be used elsewhere, and may 

 serve there to cut short unprofitable loafing, and to prevent 

 swarming.' I also have used the invertible frames to excellent 

 purpose in obtaining the same result. I invert the frames and 

 at the same time uncap the honey in them. The hives mu:»t 

 always be shaded from the hot sun. With experience will 

 come the skill which can accomplish this, and make comb- 

 honey production the most fascinating feature of bee-keeping. 



REMOVAL OF SECTIONS. 



The three-eighths inch space between the upper as well as 

 the lower bars of the sections enables us to see quickly the con- 

 dition of each section just by removal of the cover. Each 

 section should be removed as soon as capped, if we would have 

 it very nice. Yet it is certainly true that the rich, delicate 

 flavor will be increased if left on the hive even for a month or 



