50 



2 inches by i inch should be tacked all round the outside o 

 the base of the roof to hold it in position on the upper lift : J 

 similar slip must be tacked on all round the lower edges ot th: 

 upper lift, so that when in use it shall overlap the lowe 

 lift. The advantages gained by tiering four or five crate 

 together are that :— (a.) The bee-keeper can then absent him 

 self for a longer period than would otherwise be possible, wit 

 the assurance that the bees will have space enough for storing 

 (b.) The bees will not be. disturbed nor irritated by the remova 

 of their stores. 



The objections to tiering more than three crates are :- 

 (a.) That if a bad spell of weather comes, the bees may rob th 

 upper crates, (b.) It may be more profitable to market th 

 finished sections at once, rather than to hold them ovei 

 (c.) The sections may not be so well drawn out and filled, an 

 hence not so heavy as when the storage space is smallei 

 (d.) The bees moving over completed sections are likely t 

 spoil their appearance, and thus reduce their market value. 



One or more crates of sections may be removed at any tim 

 after the sections have been completel 

 112. Bemoving sealed , which may be ascertained as alread 

 Section-crates. described (111) by looking to see if the side 

 of the back row of sections next the fol 

 lower are sealed ; if that is so, the crates to be taken off may b 

 removed on the morning of a fine day when the bees are flyin, 

 freely, in the following manner : — Remove the crate or crate 

 that are on the hive (111) ; then spread a linen cloth free froE 

 holes over the top crate which is to remain on the hive, or on th 

 brood -chamber, as the case maybe; replace the crates removed 

 take off the quilt, replace the roof, taking care to leave no apei 

 ture for light except the cone escape, through which the bee 

 will pass out. The. bees should nearly all pass out by the evei 

 ing ; the crates may then be removed, the coverings bein 

 replaced as before. If the honey flow ceases during the summt 

 when crates are on, and may not be expected to come on agai 

 for some time, remove crates which contain complete 

 sections, take out the latter, and make up the crati 

 again with the unfinished sections, adding new sectioi 

 as necessary, and either replace the crates on the hivi 

 or hold them over ready for use when the honey flo 

 comes on again ; it would probably be safest for tl 

 beginner to replace at least one crate at once. If crat( 

 containing completed sections are left on when the honey-flo 

 has so far fallen off as to make the bees cease storing in tl 

 supers, the completed sections will probably be more or lei 

 damaged in appearance by the bees. The beekeeper must be; 

 in mind that if the honey-flow ceases during the ordinary peric 

 of its continuance, it is frequently advisable and sometim( 

 essential to supply 'the bees with syrup to prevent the stoc 

 dwindling (103). The beekeeper may prefer to let the bees tal 

 down the honey from the supers, but even that supply of fo< 

 may be insufficient to maintain a stock at 'this period. M^ar 

 stocks have perished from inattention to this matter. 



