i62 THE APIARY. 



PUTTING ON SUPER HIVE. 



A colony established a year or more is called a 

 "stock," by way of distinction from a swarm of the 

 present year. Supposing the hive to be a stock, 

 the super should be given them at the early part of 

 the season, say, if fine and warm, at the latter end of 

 April or beginning of May; if the weather be then 

 unfavourable, it is better to delay doing so until a more 

 genial temperature. If the colony be a swarm of the 

 present year, two weeks should be allowed to elapse from 

 the time of tenanting a hive, before putting on the super ; 

 this delay is necessary to give the bees the opportunity of 

 building combs in their new domicile, and of getting a 

 store of honey for themselves before working for their 

 master. 



When it is wished to use a super, the crown-board or 

 roof of the stock-hive must be taken away, the thin adapting 

 or honey-board taking its place. The two long slits at the 

 sides are to give admission to the super. The bees will 

 begin sooner, and work faster, if the eight bars are 

 each furnished with artificial comb (as described at 

 page 152). We have had depriving-hives very quickly 

 filled when the bees were thus assisted. Combs that 

 have been left unfilled may be fixed to the bars as before 

 described ; these must be white and clean, as dark comb 

 should not be used for super hives. The combs, when 

 filled, may be taken out singly, if desired for consump- 



