producers to remove the sections as soon as sealed, not individually, 
however, but by the superful, returning any sections which by 
chance may be unfinished. If supering has been done as fast as 
is advisable there will be no fancy sections (sealed to the wood 
nearly all the way around) but for the most part the row of 
cells next the wood will be empty (No. 1 grade). It is more 
profitable to produce grade No. 1 rather than fancy grade except 
for exhibition purposes. Comb honey no doubt acquires an increased 
ripeness and richness if left long with the bees, but since it sells 
largely on its looks the customer will not pay for extra quality. 
Its fine appearance is often injured when left long on the hive. 
Removing from the Hive 
There are times when the expert can safely remove comb honey 
from the hive without the use of the bee escape. It is seldom 
advisable for the expert and never so for the less experienced to 
dispense with the use of this device. 
The bee escape permits the passage of bees in one direction only. 
It is placed between the finished supers and the brood chamber 
or the unfinished supers, and the bees go down through the escape. 
Since they cannot return, the super can be removed practically free of 
bees. If the escape board is put in position about three o’clock usually 
by ten o’clock the next day the finished super can be removed free 
of bees. 
A word of caution should be given regarding the use of the bee 
escape. When this is in position on the hive ventilation to the super 
above is shut off and if the hive is so arranged on a hot day, the 
sun’s heat may cause damage to the honey. If, however, the escape 
is put in place and the honey removed at the time suggested no 
harm is likely to occur. Should it be necessary to leave the escape 
in position through the heated part of the day, possible damage 
may be avoided by shading the hive with boards which project 
six inches on each side and end. 
When the comb honey supers are removed, sometimes consid- 
erable propolis (bee glue) will be found on top the sections. It 
is well to scrape off most of this while the sections are still wedged 
in the super. A steel brush such as is used by butchers in cleaning 
the meat block serves this purpose well. 
When removed from the super any propolis which is still found 
on the edges of the sections should be removed. The sections are 
then graded according to weight. 
Two grades only are common: No. 1, including sections weighing 
12 1/2 ounces net and over (1 ounce being allowed for the weight 
of the wood), and No. 2, weighing net between 10 ounces and 12 1/2 
53 
