44 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER, 



Mar. 



them build about two more. Ordi- 

 nairly, this plan, when starting with a 

 two frame nucleus, will get built by- 

 each colony about four good combs. 

 Some will build five or six, but you 

 cannot trust them when the hive is 

 so near full. Of course if the flow 

 ceases and no feeding, no combs will 

 be built. To get true combs, straight 

 combs only must be used on either 

 side, and the spacing rather close. A 

 little practice along this line would 

 be wise for beginners. 



The bed method to get good combs 

 is to use wired frames and full sheets 

 of foundation. The foundation should 

 be as warm as can be handled well 

 when put on the wires, for if not 

 quite warm, it will stretch with the 

 heat of the bees when put in the hive, 

 and cause it to bulge. If the frame 

 be not reversible, let the lower edge 

 of the sheet be not over one-half inch 

 from the bottom bar. If the founda- 

 tion be put in quite warm and plenty 

 of wire, and then not too large a 

 colony to work it, one-fourth inch 

 space is enough next the bottom bar. 



As I had never made a practice of 

 letting my bees swarm, I cannot say 

 anything in regard to the use of start- 

 ers versus full sheets in the brood 

 •chamber, to hive swarms on. I think 

 the plan would not be a success in the 

 hands of any but a man of experience 

 and good judgment. I can recom- 

 mend only the two methods for the 

 brood chamber. 



The use of foundation in the supers 

 is quite a different matter. I have 

 many doubts as to the profit to be de- 

 rived from an indiscriminate use of 

 foundation in the sections. Full 

 sheets well put in, will make it much 



easier to get good work done, especial- 

 ly in weak colonies. 



I believe when the flow stands 

 moderate for four or five days and 

 then comes more free just when the 

 bees are in good shape to secrete wax , 

 they do not thin the base of the 

 foundation as they should — so we 

 have the "fish bone" in the honey. 



I believe the secretion of wax to be 

 voluntary, and so believing, think if 

 we could just so manage our bees that 

 we could make them believe that they 

 need no wax, there would not be any 

 secreted. But since they are prone to 

 follow instinct, they naturally fall to 

 secreting wax when the honey comes 

 freely. I think there is very little 

 tendency to secrete when a large lot 

 of empty comb is in the hive — two or 

 three extra chambers full — but when 

 we raise comb honey, we cannot have 

 the comb and must have the new 

 wax. 



As I view the matter now, I would 

 advise the use of both full sheets and 

 starters. (Reader, note well the fol- 

 lowing): If I had the ability to fore- 

 tell the honey flow just as it would be 

 in its conditions, here is how I would 

 arrange for it: First of all, very 

 strong colonies. I would want a few 

 sections with comb in, all ready to re- 

 ceive honey. Now for a slow flow, I 

 would put in two or more bait combs 

 — not too many — and fill out with 

 starters. If the flow comes abruptly 

 — changing in two to four days from 

 none at all to good — use ten or more 

 bait combs and fill out with full 

 sheets. In either case, should the 

 flow continue fair to good after fairly 

 started, when more room is needed, 

 use starters only. Just at this time 



