48 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



in summer so as to use the shallow side, but latterly I 

 leave the deep side up summer and winter. 



Of course, with a 2-inch space under the bottom- 

 bars the bees would build down, sometimes even as early 

 as dandelion bloom. Before that time I shove under 

 the bottom-bars a bottom-rack. As material for a rack 

 there are 2 pieces 18xlx%, and 21 pieces lO^x^XyV 

 The little pieces are nailed upon the ^ inch sides of the 

 two larger pieces, ladder-fashion, with ^ inch space 

 between each two strips. The strips are allowed to pro- 

 ject over at each side about an inch. 



I value this bottom-rack highly. It prevents building- 

 down, and at the same time gives the bees nearly the 

 full benefit of the deep space, preventing over-heat- 

 ing in hot weather, thus serving as no small factor in the 

 prevention of swarming. It also saves the labor of lift- 

 ing the hive off the bottom-board to reverse the bottom- 

 board and then lifting the hive back again, spring and 

 fall. Fig. 12 shows a bottom-rack. 



EXTRAXCE-BLOCK. 



Xow for that entrance-block. Formerly I made it 

 heavy (Fig. 13), but now it is thin, y^ inch or so thick, 

 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. It is lightly nailed upon 

 the hive by one or two small nails, and at one lower 

 corner a notch 1 inch square or less is cut out. I think 

 that small entrance helps to prevent "drifting" when the 

 bees take their first flight. 



When the bees are being carried out, if any are 

 noted as suspiciously light, they are marked, and the 

 next day frames of honey are given them. If, unfor- 

 tunately, these are not to be had, sections of honey are put 

 in the hive in wide frames, or shoved under. 



HAULIX'G BEES. 



As soon as the bees have had a good flight, those not 

 in the home apiary are ready to be hauled away. I like to> 



