160 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



the super above. But it is not so well to have them work- 

 ing so far from the brood-nest with empty space beneath. 

 No bait-section is needed in any super after the first. 



EMPTY SUPERS OX TOP. ^ 



Latterlv I have fallen into the practice of giving an 

 empty super on top, even when an empty super is put 

 under. This for more than one reason. It sometimes 

 happens that the upper starter of foundation is not secure- 

 ly fastened the entire length. If fastened half way 

 across the top-bar of the section, it will look all right, 

 but if put under other supers, next to the brood- 

 chamber, a heavy weight of bees coming upon it suddenly 

 will drag down the foundation at one side. If put on 

 top, the bees will enter the super only gradually, and the 

 foundation will be fastened in place before any great 

 weight of bees comes upon it. This empty super on 

 top gives a less crowded feeling, and may help a little 

 toward preventing swarming. No matter how full or 

 empty the lower super may be, this top super serves as a 

 sort of safety-valve, in case any need for more room 

 should arise. The next time there is need to give a 

 super below% this top super is moved down and another 

 empty super put in its place, ^^l^en the top super is 

 put down, I think the bees start work on it just a bit 

 sooner than if it had not been above. 



^ SWARMIXG NOT DESIRABLE. ^ 



If I were to meet a man perfect in the entire science 

 and art of bee-keeping, and were allowed from him an 

 answer to just one question, I would ask for the best and 

 easiest way to prevent swarming, for one who is anxious 

 to secure the largest crop of comb honey. There are 

 localities where a large crop of honey is secured in the 

 fall, and in such place, or in any place where the honey- 

 flow is long enough, a larger crop may be secured by in- 

 crease, but I am not i so sure about that. If a man in 



