SUPERS AND SUPEEING. 77 



bees had not far to go to make a commencement in them; 

 hut as soon as the combs came down, the supers were 

 raised hit by bit till they were filled. The sides of the 

 supers being glass, Mr Fox could see when to raise them. 

 He says : " The season of 1863 was better for honey than 

 any of the twelve years going before ; but, notwithstand- 

 ing, such large fine glasses of honey could not be obtained 

 except by working the hives upon his adjusting principle." 

 "We conclude this chapter as we began it, by saying 

 that, with an eye to profit, we greatly prefer the swarm- 

 ing mode of management. Hives that do not swarm are 

 often affected and made useless by that terrible and in- 

 curable disease of " foul brood." 



CHAPTER XX. 



SUPERS AND STJPERING. 



These are made of straw, wood, and glass. Straw shal- 

 low skeps, small and neatly made, are better than small 

 boxes for supers ; and boxes are better than glasses. 

 Glass supers filled are the most ornamental and pleasing 

 to the eye, and therefore in some places realise a higher 

 price; but straw and wood supers are more convenient 

 for parties using their own combs, as well as more con- 

 venient to the bees while filling them. 



It will be seen that one glass is a great improvement 

 on the other ; it looks better, and has a movable top or 

 lid. In glass supers the combs are generally built up- 

 wards, and when they reach the tops they are fastened to 

 them. 



Supers of straw, wood, or glass, of aU sizes, may be oh- 



