MANIPULATION OF FRAME-HIVES, i&i 



round, or a clip made of tin or zinc shaped to the top bar, 

 prevents its falling out. All these supports may be 

 removed* as soon as the bees have made the<foundation 

 secure ; the comb will then be added to. In this way, 

 every loose piece of comb may be economised-t 



These preparations must be made prior to 'the bees 

 being hived, so that when a hive is so prepared, a 

 swarm may begin to adapt whatever advantages they 

 find ready for them ; and it is truly marvellous what a 

 swarm will do when thus furnished with combs in their 

 new 'habitation. In these the queen can immediately 

 begin to deposit her eggs, and the 'workers to store 

 their honey, without having to wait for the construction 

 of combs, whicsh is a laborious occupation for the bees. 



In some cases, fine white :combs of honey may be 

 taken from the stock-hive ; the end frames are always 

 the most free from brood. Care must be exercised not 

 to rob this part of the hive too much ; one comb may, 

 perhaps, be removed in ithe course of the season without 

 impaverishing the bees, but it is not wise to itake more. 



* They should be first dismembered from the comb by running 

 a penknife between. 



t Artificial comb may be advantageously used, especially if a 

 little time (say a couple of days) be allowed to elapse before >it is 

 put into the hive ; because, at first, so eager is a swarm to push 

 forward the work of comb-building, that the sheets are liable to 

 become mutilated. For guide-comb, scut the sheets in strips of 

 rather more than an inch in depth, and fix them as mentioned at 

 page 154. 



