NADIRS. 85 



out of a hundred it dofls . In some hot seasons, and on 

 rare occasions, hees have been known to square the ends 

 of the combs before their hives were quite full, and 

 swarm. This so seldom happens that it may be con- 

 sidered exceptional, and out of the usual run of events. 

 When our hives aie timely eked we have never the 

 shadow of a fear that they will send off swarms. 



It is by the use of large hives and eki^fi tb"^ ^'^° 

 bee-master can get his swarms in ^ood seasons to weig h 

 from 100 tn 1 fiO lb. each. But why not have hives big 

 enough to do without eking? This question has been 

 already answered. In many cold seasons, swarms cannot 

 fill such large hives ; and it is of great importance to have 

 all hives kept for stock full or nearly full of combs in 

 autumn. 



When ekes are used, cross-sticks must be put into 

 them at the highest parts, so that the combs may be 

 fastened 



CHAPTER XXII. 



NADIRS. 



Nadirs are the opposites of supers. Nadirs go beneath 

 bee-hives, and supers above them. If a hive which we 

 wish to keep for stock becomes heavy in July, we place a 

 nadir beneath it — that is to say, we hft it off its board, 

 place a hive with cross-sticks and a large crown-hole on 

 the board, then place the fuU hive on the empty one, pin 

 the two together, and cement the junction. The bees are 

 soon found hanging in a large cluster, like a swarm, 

 through the crown-hole of the nadir. New combs are 

 speedily built from the upper hive, through the crown- 



