TAKING OUT FRAMES. 163 



tibn, substituting' an empty bar or comb ; or, should the 

 bee-keeper desire to see a handsome super, he must 

 wait until the bees have filled and sealed up all the 

 combs, and then he may proceed to disconnect the 

 super by drawing a string or wire between the adapting- 

 hoard and the stock-hive. After waiting a short time for 

 the commotion to subside, the operator must raise the 

 super on its board and blow in a little smoke. The bees 

 may be induced to quit by adopting either of the means 

 described at pages 58 and 73. When the super has 

 been removed, another may be put on ; but if the 

 honey-gathering be over, the crown-board should be 

 replaced. 



TAKING OUT FRAMES WITH COMBS. 



It is well for a beginner to practise the ' directions for 

 opening and shutting up hives, by using an empty hive 

 until he becomes familiar with the handling of the frames. 



The first thing to do is, to loosen the crown-bbaird, or 

 lid, with a knife, drawing a piece of string underneath' 

 it, to divide the wax or cement with which the bees- make 

 all secure. This string should be drawn through very 

 slowly, so as not to irritate the bees. In hot weather, 

 the crown-board rriay be loosened by a lateral move- 

 ment; but sometimes, for want of care, this' loosen- 

 ing of the lid disturbs the bees, and, as soon as it 

 is removed, a number of them, enraged thereby, rush 

 out and attack the operator. This and all other ope- 



M 2' 



