146 THE rRACnCAL UEE GUIDE. 



super box, spaces of two inches from centre to centre give 

 better results, because they enable the bees to build longer 

 cells, which, of course, hold more honey, and are easier to 

 uncap for extracting (276). When frames are used in this 

 way, the spaces between the shoulders must be filled, to pre- 

 vent the escape of bees. It is also claimed, for the two-inch 

 spacing, that the queen will not deposit eggs in combs so spaced 

 because of the depth of the cells, and that, therefore, excluders 

 under the frames are unnecessary. Manj' experienced bee- 

 keepers work their supers in this way, and avoid what, 

 certainly, is an objection to the excluder, namely, the impedi- 

 ment it offers to bees loaded with honey (109). But, it is better 

 to use an excluder than to have the combs, intended for honey, 

 occupied by brood ; and, when frames in supers are spaced 

 one and a half inch from centre to centre, as in the brood 

 chamber, excluders should always be used. With respect to 

 the use of excluders under crates of sections, opinions differ 

 widely. In some districts, and with some stocks, excluders are 

 found to be necessary ; in other cases, not. In cold, wet 

 seasons, queens will often go up to the warmer part of the hive 

 and take possession of the crates ; and bees have been known, 

 in exceptionally unfavourable seasons, to rear queens in the 

 sections, and even to swarm, leaving frames of foundation in 

 the brood chamber untouched, and combs unoccupied. But, 

 making due allowance for the vagaries botli of the climate and 

 the bees, crates may be generally used without excluders 

 underneath if sufficient room be given to the queen in the 

 brood chamber (193). When excluder zinc is used, it should 

 lie flat upon the frames, leaving no space at the edges for the 

 queen to ascend. It may be laid upon the carbolic cloth, and 

 held while the cloth is drawn from under it; then, if the cloth 

 be spread for a moment upon the excluder, the super box, or 

 crate can be put on as directed above. 



269. Tiering Crates. — In a good season, a strong stock may 

 require a second crate within a week. If honey is coming in 

 rapidly, and the days are fine, the second crate may be given 

 when it is seen that the bees have drawn out the foundation 

 in their sections, and are storing honey there. In the height 

 of the honey flow, swarming may be provoked by a day's delay 

 in giving more super room when it is required. Give the 

 second crate underneath the first one. Prepare it as before 

 (257) ; and set it on the riser beside the hive. Subdue the bees 

 with smoke. If the first crate has been well vaselined, it will 

 come off easily; if not, prise it up at the corners, and insert 

 bits cf broken sections there. If the laths on which the 

 sections rest are too thick or too thin, or if they have sagged, 



