NADIRS. 85 



out of a hundred it does. In some hot seasons, and on 

 rare occasions, bees have been known to square the ends 

 of the combs before their hives were quite full, and 

 swarm. This so seldom happens that it may be con- 

 sidered exceptional, and out of the usual run of events. 

 "When our hives are timely eked we have never the 

 shadow of a fear that they wiU send off swarms. 



It is by the use of large hives and ekes that the 

 bee-master can get his swarms in good seasons to weigh 

 from 100 to 160 lb. each. But why not have hives big 

 enough to do without eking "i This question has been 

 abeady answered. In many cold seasons, swarms cannot 

 fill such large hives ; and it is of great importance to have 

 aU hives kept for stock full or nearly fuU of combs in 

 autumn. 



"When ekes are used, cross-sticks must be put into 

 them at the highest parts, so that the eombs may be 

 fastened. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



NADIRS. 



Nadirs are the opposites of supers. Nadirs go beneath 

 bee-hives, and supers above them. If a hive which we 

 wish to keep for stock becomes heavy in July, we place a 

 nadir beneath it — ^that is to say, we lift it off its board, 

 place a hive with cross-sticks and a large crown-hole on 

 the board, then place the full hive on the empty one, pin 

 the two together, and cement the junction. The bees are 

 soon found hanging in a large cluster, like a swarm, 

 through the crown-hole of the nadir. New combs are 

 speedily buUt from the Upper hive, through the crown- 



