FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 203 



super over the side of the hive to join the bees of the 

 colony below. 



A number of supers may be thus standing at a time 

 on their respective hives. Sometimes two supers are 

 taken from the same hive, and, in rare cases, especially 

 late in the season, three. 



WATCHING FOR R0B1JH:R-BEES. 



These supers, left standing on the hives, however, 

 are never left entirely out of mind, and a glance is given 

 toward them every few minutes. If at any time bees are 

 seen flying with their heads towards a super, immediate 

 attention is given to the matter, and the supers hustled 

 ofif the hives. When the bees are nearly all out, or at 

 any time when it is not desirable to leave supers stand- 

 ing on the hives, they are put in piles, preferably not 

 more than ten high. 



WHEN ROBBER-BEES TROUBLE. 



If fear of robbers does not allow the supers to stand 

 exposed, the super is still put on top of the hive, and a 

 good many of the bees are at once driven out by smoke. 

 The smoker is held on the side toward the wind, so that 

 the wind will help drive the smoke between the sections, 

 and from time to time the bees are brushed off. The 

 bee-brush generally used is the Coggshall, but if it were 

 not for the trouble of preparing one fresh every day, I 

 think I would prefer a good-sized bunch of asparagus, 

 sweet clover, goldenrod, or something of the kind tied 

 together. 



MILLER TENT-ESCAPE. 



In piling the supers a sunny place is preferred, to 

 entice out the bees. A deep bottom-board is put on the 

 ground, a super placed on it, and the entrance closed with 

 wirecloth somewhat as a hive-entrance is closed for haul- 



