OR, MANUAI, OF THE APIARY. 337 



either by filling the space with division-boards (Doolittle), or by 

 using- the lower half of a horizontally divided brood-chamber 

 (Hutchinson), see new Heddon hive, p. 189. In this way the 

 whole working force is put at once into the sections. Some of 

 our best Michigan and New York bee-keepers, with Dr. Miller, 

 let the bees swarm, and return them, either caging the queen 

 or placing her in a nucleus for seven days, then return her to 

 the bees, after cutting out the quefen-cells. This takes nothing 

 from the energy of the bees, and will doubtless work best of 

 all methods in the hands of the beginner. In this case, as the 

 full energy of the colony is turned to storing, the amount of 

 honey would be theoretically greater. My practice sustains 

 the theory. Such authorities as Messrs. Hetherington and 

 Elwood practice this method. J. H. Robertson kills the old 

 queen, and in seven days destroys all but the largest queen-cell, 

 and so gains the same end, and requeens his apiary. If 

 increase is desired, however, then Mr. Hutchinson's method 

 should be followed. The yield of comb honey in this last case 

 will not usually be so great, though in excellent seasons it 

 may be greater. 



Some very able bee-keepers manipulate so skillfully by 

 adding empty combs to the hives, as to keep this swarming 

 impulse in check, and still keep the bees increasing most 

 rapidly. Others divide the colonies, and so hold at bay the 

 swarming-fever. All must practice as their own experience 

 proves best, as the same method will not have equal value 

 with different persons. We must work as best we can to secure 

 strong colonies, and check or retard the swarming-fever, and, 

 while learning by experience to do this, may well work the 

 most of our bees for extracted honey, which is more easily 

 secured, and is sure to be in demand, even though the price is 

 less. The quantity may more than compensate for lower 



price. 



ADJUSTMENT OF SECTIONS. 



As before suggested, a wide space between bottom-bars of 

 sections — three-eighths inch — is desirable. J. A. Green has 

 half-story supers with frames only one-half as deep for 

 extracting. These are put one on each hive at the dawn of 

 the honey harvest. As soon as the bees commence to work in 



