DADANT SYSTEM OF BEEKEEPING 73 



to another. We have extracting combs which have been in use 

 for 40 years or more and which are now better than ever, for 

 the bees every season strengthen them by the addition of a little 

 more wax. Neither is there any loss of beeswax in the production 

 of extracted honey. Bees produce comb in large amount when 

 they are compelled to remain filled with honey from one day to 

 another, for want of cells in which to store it. If empty comb 

 is supplied plentifully, a very small amount of wax will be 

 produced. Both practice and theory indicate this. 



The supers are placed upon the hives at the opening*of the 

 crop of honey. This is perhaps ambiguous to beginners. But it 

 is necessary to have some practical experience to judge of the 

 exact time and even experienced beekeepers may put the supers 

 on too early or too late. We must leave this matter to be decided 

 by the good judgment of the apiarist. We often wait until our 

 best colonies begin to whiten their brood-combs with fresh bees- 

 wax at the top. Sometimes, if the crop opens with a rush, this 

 may be too late to prevent swarming preparations. If our col- 

 onies are very strong, it does not hurt to put the supers orta few 

 days earlier. 



Very strong colonies may be given two supers at once, 

 though we prefer to give only one, waiting to put on the second 

 super until the first one is about half filled. 



Supers that are already filled with combs fully built during 

 a previous season are a great attraction to the bees. The pro- 

 ducers of comb-honey who follow the method of Dr. Miller and 

 others to place a few already built sections in each comb-honey 

 super, as baits, to attract the bees there, will readily realize what 

 a marked influence supers of comb already built have upon the 

 production of honey. Few people recognize the great cost of 

 comb to the bees. Yet supers are filled more than twice as readily 

 when already full of drawn combs as when given to the bees 

 with only guides or even with comb foundation. Powerful col- 

 onies, in a very promising season, may be given as many as 3 

 supers of the large size that we use, at the very outset, and fill 

 them readily. 



Our visits to the bees are timed according to the prospects 



