144 ADVANTAGES OF THE PXAME HIVE. 



which will be presently described, be emptied of their 

 sweets without destroying the combs, and then put 

 back again for the bees to refill. This cannot, of 

 course, be done with the combs in a sleep. A very 

 great quantity of honey can be taken in this way, for 

 the bees, being spared all the trouble of making fresh 

 comb, very soon fill the empty cells, and the bee- 

 keeper can again and again, during the season, take 

 away a good supply of honey out of the same combs. 



Another great advantage of the frame-hive is that 

 the bee-keeper can, without much difficulty, at the 

 proper time of year make an increase of his colonies, 

 just as he thinks fit. He can, as a good guide-book 

 will explain, make one hive into two ; or, which is an 

 excellent plan, he. can make three out of two, or four 

 out of three. He is indeed. the bee-master as well as 

 the bee-keeper, and the bees are his most willing and 

 industrious little servants. 



Then, again, with the frame-hive, many enemies 

 can be destroyed, diseases cured, new frames given 

 when required, the number of drones regulated, and 

 many other things done, most helpful to the bees ; so 

 that, as I have said, you must not always be content 

 with the straw skep, although, to begin with, it is a 

 good hive. 



But now, doubtless, the question has been sug- 

 gested to your mind. Yes, but when you talk of 

 lifting out frames, and finding the queen, and doing 

 all that has been described, will the bees permit you ? 

 Will they not so attack and sting you as to compel 

 you to give in ? No, not so ; for they patiently 

 submit. Some people think there is a great mystery 



