422 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETATION 



sections, as it gives the comb a bad appearance. To remove bees 

 from sections, the super may be put over a bee escape so that the 

 bees can pass down but can not return, or the supers may be removed 

 and covered with a wire-cloth-cone bee escape. 



After sections are removed the wood should be scraped free of 

 propolis (bee glue) and then packed in shipping cases for the mar- 

 ket. Shipping cases to hold 12, 24, or 48 sections, in which the vari- 

 ous styles of sections fit exactly, are manufactured by dealers in sup- 

 plies. In shipping these cases, several of them should be put in a 

 box or crate packed in straw and paper and handles provided to re- 

 duce the chances of breakage. When loaded in a freight car the 

 combs should be parallel with the length of the car. 



In preparing comb honey -for market it should be carefully 

 graded, so that the sections in each shipping case are as uniform as 

 possible. Nothing will more likely cause wholesale purchasers to 

 cut the price than to find the first row of sections in a case fancy and 

 those behind of inferior grade. 



The Production of Wax. Beeswax, which is secreted by the 

 bees ami used by them for building their combs, is an important com- 

 mercial product. There are times in almost every apiary when there 

 are combs to be melted up, and it pays to take care of even scraps of 

 comb and the cappings taken off in extracting. A common' method 

 of taking out the wax is to melt the combs in a solar wax extractor. 

 This is perhaps the most feasible method where little wax is pro- 

 duced, but considerable wax still remains in old brood combs after 

 such heating. Various wax presses are on the market, or one can be 

 made at home. If much wax is produced, the bee keeper should 

 make a careful study of the methods of wax extraction, as there is 

 usually much wax wasted even after pressing. 



Preparations for Wintering. After the main honey flow is over 

 the management must depend on what may be expected later in the 

 season from minor honey flows. If no crop is to be expected, the 

 colony may well be kept only moderately strong, so that there will 

 not be so many consumers in the hive. 



In localities where winters are severe and breeding is suspended 

 for several months great care should be taken that brood-rearing is 

 rather active during the late summer, so that the colony may go 

 into winter with plenty of young bees. In case any queens show 

 lack of vitality they should be replaced early, so that the bees will 

 not become queenless during the winter. The important considera- 

 tions in wintering are plenty of young bees, a good queen, plenty of 

 stores of good quality, sound hives, and proper protection from cold 

 and dampness. 



If, as cold weather approaches, the bees do not have stores 

 enough, they must be fed. Every colony should have from 25 to 50 

 pounds, depending on the length of winter and the methods of win- 

 tering. It is better to have too much honey than not enough, for 

 what is left is good next season. If feeding is practiced, honey may 

 be used, but sirup made of granulated sugar is just as good and is 

 perfectly safe. If honey is purchased for feeding, great care should 



