66 SWARMING AND HIVING, 



sometimes build the comb crosswise of the brood 

 section, notwithstanding the triangular comb guides 

 in the frames of each Controllable Hive. As 

 straight combs in the brood section are very im- 

 portant, we should employ every available means 

 to aid in securing them. 



It is well to keep on hand a few plain boxes, each 

 with four movable frames, like those in the Con- 

 trollable Hive. If at any time a swarm comes out 

 at the very last of the honey season, hive them in 

 one of these boxes. They will probably enlarge or 

 quite fill the four frames with comb, and perhaps 

 store a little honey. Then, in the fall, put these 

 four frames with the bees and comb, in a Con- 

 trollable Hive, and add two frames, well filled with 

 honey, from a stock that can spare it. In this way 

 you will build up a good stock for winter, whereas 

 if you had hived them in a full sized Controllable 

 Hive so late in the season, they would probabl}- 

 have put a little comb in each of thf six frames, but 

 not enough to winter, rendering it necessary for you 

 to feed with the liquid feed in the fall. It is better 

 to have four frames nearly or quite filled with comb, 

 than to have six frames with a very little comb in 

 each. It sometimes happens that a swarm of bees, 

 which has worked well in boxes through the entire 

 honey season, will swarm about the time the yield 

 of honey ceases. If managed on the old plan, such 

 swarms are worthless, but by hiving them in a box 

 with four movable frames, as directed, they make 

 valuable stocks. All such swarms may be returned 

 to the old stock, as directed in another chapter, yet 



