--& DR. MILLER S 



A. Sometimes it will; generally it will not. Giving plenty of 

 room is one of the things that help to prevent swarming, but it 

 is only a help, and not a reliable preventive. 



Q. When is the best time to put supers on hives? Do bees 

 necessarily accumulate on the outside of the hive before 

 swarming? 



A. The best time to put on supers depends a little upon what 

 you may desire. If you are anxious for increase through natural 

 swarming, it may be best to delay putting on supers till after the 

 harvest is under way, for crowding the brood-chamber with honey 

 will have the effect of starting the bees into the notion of 

 swarming. Indeed, it would make a more sure thing of the 

 swarming if no super should be given until after the bees have 

 actually swarmed. Generally, however, the desire is for honey 

 rather than swarms. In that case the super should be given be- 

 fcre there is any danger of crowding the brood-chamber with 

 honey. A little too soon is better than a little too late. One way 

 is to watch the flowers from which the harvest is expected, and 

 put on supers as soon as they appear in quantity. In your region 

 white clover is probably the thing for you to watch. Another way 

 i« to watch the condition of the brood-chamber, and put on su- 

 pers when the brood-combs begin to be crowded with honey. The 

 old rule was to give supers when white wa.x begins to be plastered 

 oi' the upper parts of the comb; a good rule in most cases, but for 

 those who prefer not to have any swarming (even though it may 

 bf a rare thing for the bees to respect their wishes) it is better 

 to have supers on before the bees get so far as to secrete this ex- 

 tra wax. 



Q. When a super is nearly full of honey, is it best to put 

 another super on top and let the bees get well to working before 

 "under-supering?" 



A. When a super is something like half filled and the prospect 

 is good for a continuous yield, put a new super under. You may 

 at the same time put an empty super on top, ready to be put 

 next to the hive at the next shift. 



Q. In the early part of the honey-flow, in putting on extra su- 

 pers, do you put them underneath those already on top? 



A. The second super is put under the first, and at the same 

 time another empty is put on top. This last serves as a safety 

 valve in case the bees should need more room. There is another 

 important advantage. With the best care it will sometimes hap- 



