PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 39 



are braced on the combs against the rising movement, then lower the 

 comb with a quick jerk and the bees will fall to the hive. This 

 repeated several times will serve to get most of the bees off. The 

 former mode of shaking is perhaps more desirable when there are 

 young bees on the combs in any number, as these bees will then 

 be shaken into the hive and not onto the ground as might be the 

 case if the latter plan were followed. The latter plan is much more 

 convenient and when the bees are old enough to fly, is entirely satis- 

 factory. In either case the few bees remaining on the combs to- 

 gether with those that may re-alight may be removed by brushing 

 them lightly either with a light brush made for the purpose or with 

 a wing feather taken from a turkey or similar bird. This feather 

 should be taken from the left wing as before noted, as this gives the 

 curve in the right direction and the wide feather portion in con- 

 tact with the comb for brushing when operated in the right hand. 



But to return to the matter of manipulation of the combs of the 

 brood chamber, in order to increase the brood area. To ac- 

 complish this successful^ it takes judgment and experience. Tu 

 general combs filled with brood, i. e. eggs and young larvae, may 

 be moved toward the outside. Care should be taken, however, in 

 a weak colony not to spread unsealed brood too much, especially 

 early in the spring during cool weather. The combs with sealed 

 or emerging brood may be placed next and then in or near the cen- 

 ter, empty combs inserted for the queen to fill with eggs. The in- 

 sertion of an empty comb in this way is a good plan to follow if one 

 finds trouble, for any reason, in locating a queen. The next day the 

 queen is almost sure to be caught on the inserted comb. 



In inserting frames of full sheet comb foundation they should be 

 placed between full combs so that there will not be too much vacant 

 space in the center of the hive, as this may divide the brood nest. 

 Again, if the starters only are used, i. e. narrow strips of foundation 

 in the frames, placing the inserted. frames thus, is more likely to in- 

 sure getting straight and even combs. As a rule, it is best, however, 

 to use full sheets of foundation and wire the frames as described 

 in the section on Starting an Apiary. Starters may be used in 

 second swarms or in colonies where there are young queens, as 

 where there is an old queen there is a great tendency for the bees 

 from instinct to build drone comb for the same reason that an old 

 queen is found laying drone eggs. In a very strong colony, when 



