40 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



ADVANTAGES OF DRAWN COMB 

 IN SECTIONS. 

 In filling supers I aim to have 700, or 

 one for each colony, with a row of drawn 

 comb, from the previous year, across the 

 front and rear end of each super; the two 

 center rows being filled with full sheets 

 of foundation. Honey will be stored in 

 the drawn comb as soon as any appears 

 beyond the daily needs of the colonies; 

 comb building, too, will not lag, as the 

 foundation is right over the heart of the 

 cluster where there is the greatest amount 

 of heat. 



EXCESSIVE SWARMING PREVENTED. 



This plan, I think, has something to do 

 in preventing excessive swarming; for 

 a large per cent, of colonies thus start- 

 ed in the supers, can, by proper handling, 

 be led onward and upward (so to speak) 

 beyond the temptation to swarm. 



Do I hear a storm of criticism brewing 

 by those who will say that if I use combs 

 from the previous year I cannot produce 

 A, No. I honey ? To all such I will say, 

 my honey sells for the top price, and 

 pleases my customers — that is all I am 

 raising it for. 



To the charge of using drawn combs 

 from the previous year, I plead guilt}-, 

 and worse — it was premeditated. 



I always get all the honey finished up 

 t\\a.\. \s, possible for me , and at the same 

 time get a lot of drawn combs for next 

 year's use; which I claim, in this climate, 

 with its long season and peculiar ending, 

 can just as well be done as not — yes, 

 even better done than not. 



PUTTING TOGETHER SECTIONS. 



Before describing the matter of putting 

 up sections, I would like to introduce my 

 wife and two daughters, the Misses 

 Marion and Ethel, for they cut quite a 

 figure in the production of a car load of 

 comb honey. 



In putting up sections I use a Rauch- 

 fuss combined machine. If there is any 

 better I have not seen it; as the sections 

 go right from the crate to the super with 

 one operation. 



While doing this work we generally 

 work from two to four days out of the 

 week, according to the housework and 

 social requirements of the ladies. 

 MOISTENING SECTIONS FOR FOLDING. 



I act as supernumerary by cleaning 

 supers, dampening sections, cutting foun- 

 dation, w^edging up and carrying supers 

 to and from the operator at the machine. 

 I wet the sections with a fountain syringe, 

 using the smallest size point. I have the 

 w'ater quite warm, and hold the point 

 close to the openings in the sections so 

 that a whole crate can be moistened very 

 quickly. 



Of course, the sections should be keyed 

 up tight in the crate, so that no water will 

 get out on the face of the sections, for 

 the foundation will not stick to a wet 

 surface. 



CUTTING UP FOUNDATION FOR 

 STARTERS. 



In cutting up the foundation, I put 

 fifty sheets into a box that just fits the 

 sheets of foundation, but with one end 

 and the top open. The box has saw-kerfs 

 sawed down through the sides, at equal 

 distances apart, as guides for cutting the 

 sheets into five equal parts. In cutting 

 I use a scalloped bread knife dipped in 

 warm soap suds; and b}- a quick sawing 

 motion, I can, in less than one minute, 

 have five piles (250) of starters that are 

 true, and as loose as a pack of cards. 



My wife is champion at the filliiig of 

 supers, as she will average to fill 100 sup- 

 ers in eight hours. 



As the supers are filled they are packed 

 away and covered with newspapers to 

 keep off the dust, for if they are not need- 

 ed this year they will be read}' for use 

 the next. 



Having the hives and sections all ready 

 for the season's work, living as we live, 

 in the city, knowing that there is one 

 apiary for everv da}- in the week, that 

 they are from three to eight miles out, 

 and realizing what it means in work, we 

 are getting eager for the fray. 



LoNGMONT, Colo. Jan. 29. 1902. 



