REPLACING FRAMES. ' 167 



or for any purpose requiring full inspection, with a little 

 dexterity in twirling the frame round, the reverse side may 

 be brought to face the operator, without letting the comb 

 break away by its own weight, and so fall out of the 

 frame, which it will do if allowed to deviate from its 

 upright or downright position. If the operator could 

 see an experienced person perform the operation, 

 he would quickly understand how combs may thus be 

 handled without any risk of a smash. 



When placing frames in the hive, care must be taken 

 not to crush a bee between the projecting shoulders 

 of the frame and the rabbets or notches on which they 

 rest, and on no account must the frame be let down with 

 a jerk, or the bees will become exceedingly fierce : the 

 frame should be so slowly deposited in its place that a 

 bee on feeling the slightest pressure may have the oppor- 

 tunity of escaping unhurt thereby. The crown-board 

 should be replaced by first resting its front edge in its 

 place, and then slowly lowering the after part, looking 

 carefully under, and momentarily raising it when neces- 

 sary to avoid crushing a bee. Should the hive have its 

 super on, the same directions may be followed. The 

 super with its honey-board may be bodily taken away, 

 and so placed and confined for a time that robber-bees 

 cannot find an entrance, and also be far enough from 

 the apiarian to be out of danger of being broken or 

 overturned by him. 



