MANIPULATING FEAMES 45 



tops of the frames. There is no occasion to overdo it; 

 two or three puffs are quite sufficient under ordinary 

 circumstances. Keep a sharp lookout, and when the 

 bees show a disposition to "form line" along the top 

 bars, it is time to give some more smoke. Too much 

 demoralises the insects and renders all operations much 

 more difficult. 



There is a golden rule in regard to handling frames : 

 always remember to keep the combs on edge, and handle 

 them in that position. If combs are carried on the flat — 

 i.e. like a tea tray — an accident is almost certain to occur; 

 should the weather be at all warm, and the combs heavy 

 with new honey, they will assuredly fall out of the frame. 

 If this should happen once or twice, it will be perhaps 

 the best reminder to the novice always to handle combs 

 on edge. All work should be carried out with deliberation. 

 The movements of the hands should be free and sure. 

 Avoid all jerky movements. 



To remove a particular frame, press the adjoining 

 ones a little to each side, thus creating a space sufficient 

 to withdraw the desired frame without killing bees, and 

 perhaps fatally injuring the royal mother. 



The apiarist is now in a position to study the 

 formation of the comb and the development of 

 the bee. The frames of foundation will, by this 

 time, be drawn out into beautiful white comb of 

 virgin purity, and some cells will contain a little 

 honey, others small deposits of pollen (See Fig. 25, 

 No. 12). Should the colony be both numerous and 

 industrious, tiny eggs may be observed in some of the 

 new combs. On account of the similarity in colour, the 

 eggs (Fig. 25, No. 3) are harder to discern in new white 

 comb than in the old black transferred ones. The colour 

 of the comb — after the first hatching of brood — constantly 

 darkens until the familiar blackish tint is acquired. 

 Cheshire specifies the larval excrement (Fig. 25, No. 2) 

 as the cause of the discoloration. A reference to the 

 diagram will show the manner of comb structure and 



