COMB HONEY IN SECTIONS 77 



top of the section-rack is -warmly covered with quilts, 

 and it will be found an advantage to have, for the final 

 covering, a specially long quilt, the ends of which can 

 be snugly packed down at either end of the section-rack. 



If a partially filled section can be placed in the centre 

 of the rack it is a great inducement to the bees to 

 commence work at once. Sometimes bees manifest con- 

 siderable shyness in entering sections, the usual cause 

 being cold and draughty supers ; the remedy is obvious. 



When the sections are about two-thirds full of comb 

 and honey, another rack should be given beneath the first 

 one. To do this use smoke, having the second rack at 



PORTER BEE ESCAPE 



hand. "Prise" up the first rack at each corner in turn 

 with a screwdriver, blow in a puff of smoke, then grasp 

 the rack firmly with both hands ; screw the rack round 

 until it feels perfectly free, then, and only then, 

 lift it clear of the hive, place it accurately on the 

 top of the empty rack, replace both in the hive and 

 pack up snugly as before. A third rack may be placed 

 beneath the other two when it is judged that the second 

 rack is being freely used. Probably by this time the 

 first rack will be completed and ready for removal. 

 The supers are of course crowded with bees, and 

 the problem is to get rid of them in the most 

 expeditious manner, and with as little disturbance 

 as possible. The best way is to use a " clearer 



