STEWARTQN, OR AYRSHIRE HIVE. 115 



The more quickly the box is filled, the purer will be 

 the colour of the comb and honey, because bees very 

 much discolour their work when they have it long on 

 hand. Before taking off the honey-box, observe par- 

 ticularly that the combs are well sealed at the windows, 

 because, as mentioned at page 83, this portion of the 

 work is always left till the last. 



When you see that all is ready for the removal of a 

 box, select the middle of a fine day for the purpose 

 •(not omitting to don the bee-armour). Draw out one 

 ■or tW'O of the slides, and give the bees a , few 

 gentle puffs, either of fungus or of tobacco smoke, 

 from the tube fiimigator, which will cause the majority 

 of the bees to descend into the body of the hive ; 

 then stop the communication, by pushing in the slides. 

 Next, with a spatula, make a slight opening for a piece 

 of strong thin twine at the front of the box, and 

 immediately behind the thread two thin wedges; with 

 the two ends in hand, work the twine gently forward, 

 bringing the wedges, after, until the opposite side is 

 reached. This will remove any obstruction caused by 

 the bees having attached their combs to the top of the 

 next box, and thus leave the super entirely free for 

 removal. It will be as well, for the resisons stated at 

 page 58, not to remove the box immediately. After 

 waiting an hour, the box may be taken off, and conveyed 

 to a quiet place. Should any bees remain, they will be 

 glad, after their confinement, to escape to the parent 



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