EKES. 117 



CHAPTEE XXIV. 



EKES. 



Can bees be prevented from swarming 1 Yes, by the use 

 of ekes ; and what are these 1 Additions or enlargements 

 from below — that is to say, eked or lengthened. Four or 

 six inches stitched to the bottom of the legs of a pair of 

 trousers is eking : the legs are thus made longer. So 

 hives are enlarged or eked by' the use of riddle-rims, or 

 four or five roUs of hives about the same width as the 

 hives raised by them. These ekes are fastened to hives 

 by nails or staples going into both, and the junctions 

 covered with fresh cow -dung, which speedily hardens 

 and cements the two together. 



Straw ekes, hke straw hives, are much better than 

 wooden ones. At present we use riddle-rims for eking 

 because we have none of straw. The sides of a hive nearly 

 worn out make two ekes, if properly cut and sewed a 

 Httle. 



Are ekes better than supers for getting a great weight 

 of run honey 1 Very much ; for bees can put more than 

 3 lb. of honey in ekes for every 2 lb. they can put in 

 supers. Bees not only gather more honey, but they 

 breed more, by the use of ekes, and are thus prepared 

 to do more work in future. The markets will determine 

 whether eking or supering is the most profitable. If the 



