174 BOSIKQ AKD SURPLUS HOKET. 



combs are of value as guides in boxes the ensuing season. 

 They may be removed from the boxes, the capping cut, 

 and the honey taken out with the extractor. The bees 

 should be allowed to have access to them, that they may 

 remove all honey adhering to the cells. These combs 

 need to be protected from dirt and dust. I advise, how- 

 ever, that but a limited number of boxes be placed upon 

 the hive, that all may be filled, and then devote the re- 

 mainder of the season to securing new combs in the body 

 of the hive, for use as guides. When built in frames they 

 may be more readily extracted, and the soiling of boxes 

 avoided. Or, if an extra supply of combs is desired, 

 foundation may be furnished for the bees to build out for 

 future use. If this is not desirable, empty combs may be 

 added for extracting, or to be filled and reserved for the 

 following season's operations, as suggested in the Chapter 

 on Extracting. It is, of course, profitable to prolong their 

 work in boxes, as long as they will complete them hand- 

 somely. 



I usually put the first set of boxes on the top of the 

 hive, and when partly filled, remove them to one side of 

 the combs, and place a fresh set at the top. If the swarm 

 is strong, and the flow of honey continues, these may be 

 put at the other side in like manner, and the top refilled. 

 If only a top-boxing hive is used, the first set may be 

 raised before completion, and empty ones placed beneath, 

 with holes in both top and bottom, to permit the free pas- 

 sage of the bees. With swarming restricted, I have had 

 thirty-two five-pound boxes upon several hives, in the en- 

 tire number of which bees were so freely at work as to 

 complete twenty-four of them at nearly the same time. 

 Do not entertain the idea that all swarms will gather 

 such amounts. It will frequently occur that some 

 swarms will not occupy all the boxes furnished, or they 

 may discontinue work before they are completed. These 

 may often be removed, and given to such colonies as will 



