FINAL HINTS. 95 



be found useful by those who do not possess the Swiss Wax 

 Extractor, which is decidedly expensive. Nevertheless, it is 

 seldom possible to extract quite all of the wax from the combs 

 without a Swiss Extractor, and if many old combs are melted 

 down this failure to extract the last particle of wax from 

 each comb will entail a loss in the long run. 



Do not Hive Swarms on Full Sheets of 

 Foundation Only. 



Do not hive a swarm — particularly a large one — on full 

 sheets of foundation alone, for its weight, especially in hot 

 weather, is liable to break them down unless at least three 

 frames containing already drawn-out comb are interspersed 

 between the full sheets of foundation. If no frames of drawn- 

 out comb at all are available it will be better to hive a swarm 

 on frames containing "starters" of foundation 1 inch deep only. 



Do not Extract from Combs containing Brood. 



Do not, where possible, extract from combs containing 

 brood, more especially unsealed brood. ISTot only is it likely 

 to throw a large quantity of unsealed brood out into the 

 extractor, but it is very liable to chill and kill the brood, 

 particularly in cool weather. So experienced an authority 

 as Simmins claims that large quantities of brood chilled thus 

 will cause foul brood. Be this as it may, no much better 

 " culture " for the germination of any germs of foul brood 

 that may exist could possibly be found than brood " chilled " 

 and killed in this way. 



Plinths and Hive Legs- 



If the absolutely straight plinths shown in G, fig. 6 

 (page 17), are used in the construction of a beehive, the 

 upper storeys and the roof, unless made a little 

 larger than the body box, will constantly stick 

 tight when we try to handle them. To avoid 

 this inconvenience manufacturers of beehives 

 generally use the style of plinth shown in 

 fig. 42. Many amateurs who make their own 

 hives would find some difficulty in making Fig;. 42. -The best 

 plinths of this kind, and such people can fOT.Beehi'es. 



1 



