66 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 



quired. This usually takes the form of a smoker, 

 or of a cloth sprinkled with a solution of two parts 

 of water to one part of Calvert's No. 5 carbolic 

 acid. First remove the quilts until only the 

 bottom one remains. Gently raise the edge of 

 this and blow a little smoke over the frames, 

 afterwards replacing the quilt. The effect of this 

 smoke is to frighten the bees, causing them to 

 fill their honey-sacs from the open cells. In this 

 condition they are much less liable to sting. 



If there are no open cells containing honey, a 

 condition of things which often exists in early 

 spring or late autumn, a little sugar syrup must be 

 poured over each of the seams of bees. It will 

 take the bees a couple of minutes or so to fill 

 their sacs, after which time the quilt may be 

 removed and a little more smoke blown over the 

 combs. Any examination that may be required 

 can now be made. In taking out the frames, first 

 remove the division-board at the side, if there is 

 one, and then take out the first frame. 



In handling frames there is one correct method, 

 and one only. Draw the frame a little sideways 

 to clear it from the next comb, and then gently, 

 raise it by the lugs. Examine the side nearest 

 to you, and then, lowering one hand until the top 

 bar is perpendicular, swing the frame round like 

 the leaf of a book and bring the hands level again. 

 The effect of this will be that you are now look- 

 ing at the other side, with the bottom bar upper- 

 most. To bring the frame back to its proper 



