210 



DR. AllLLER S 



O. What ahiiut (wo-pound sections? 



A. TIk'v liad the held when sections were introduced >-ears 

 ago, but side by side brought 2 cents .1 pound less than the 1- 

 pounds ; so that notwithstanding the less labor in their produc- 

 tion, thei' were driven out of the market. It is somewhat doubt- 

 ful whether they would do any better now. 



Section-Folding. — Q. He>w should I niaua.ue the sections? 

 Must they be wet before bending, or bent dry.' 1 see a hand- 

 machine advertised for bending them. Would you advise the use 

 of one, or bend by hand? 



A. Sometimes sections can be put together all right without 

 wetting; generally too maii\- of them will break unless the joints 

 are wet. If ye>u have many sections to fold, >-ou will find it better 

 to have some kind of section-press. 



Sections, Short Weight. — [). It rather displeases me that my 

 sections of honey (1912J, while looking well, averaged in weight 

 only 13 ounces, while about all the others 1 weighed in this neigh- 

 borhood weighed at least 14 ounces, and sometimes more. Are 

 there any reasons evident for such discrcpanc}- ? In I'HJ I had 

 five times more honey than in 1911. 



;V. Vou will probably find that in flush years, when honey 

 comes in rapull_\-, combs will be filled out more plumply than in a 

 slow flow, perhaps because in a slow flow the bees have more 

 time to_ build wax and seal combs. Vou will also find that they 

 will fill combs more plumply if crowded for room. Like enough 

 you gave the bees mure surplus room than your neighbors did. 

 Taking one )ear w ith another, you are probably the gainer by it. 



Sections, Taking Off. — (J. Do you take off sections as fast as 

 finished, or do you leave all on until the flow is o\er? 



A. Neither. I take oil" each super as soon as it is finished, or 

 finished all but a little at the outside corners. 



tj. What is the best way to get the bees from the sections 

 when 1 remove the super? If one should take the super a dis- 

 tance from the hive and brush them oil, would they go back to 

 the hive, or would they get lost? 



A. The Porter bee-escape is a nice thing to use it you have 

 time to wait for it; and il you want more prcMupt work, there is, 

 perhaps, nothing better than the Miller tent-escape, which latter 

 you can make yourself. It is probable that you do not have 

 enough honey to make it worth while lo have an escape; yet I 

 think if I had as many as five colonies I should make a .Miller 

 escape. Without having an escape there are several ways to pro- 



