98 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
of flannel or similar warm material in place of the 
crown-board when the super is away. This of course 
implies the necessity of an additional cover, but that 
ought to be furnished in any case. When the suy er is 
to be put on, the quilt is removed and the adapter or 
honey-board takes its place. But there are grave 
objections urged by many competent judges against 
the use of the quilt, for besides harbouring vermin it 
is very prone to become mouldy underneath, and 
this immediately upon the tops of the frames. 
Some, however, have not observed this defect, and 
are warm in praise of the introduction. But the 
bast or phrail, of which fish baskets are made, is 
less open to objection, and will answer all the 
purpose of the quilt to those to whom the idea 
commends itself. It is further noticed in the chapter 
on ‘‘ Winter Management.” 
Before proceeding further it is desirable to answer 
the question, certain to occur to many a beginner, 
What is the great advantage of frame hives over the 
old-fashioned skeps ? The one important fact out of 
which all their advantages grow, is that they give the 
bee-keeper the means of ascertaining at any time the 
exact condition of affairs within. He can extract any 
one particular comb, search for and take away the 
queen, and cage down a new one in her place upon 
the cells; or he can in like manner insert a royal cell, 
substitute a full comb of brood from another hive, or 
one full of honey if the bees are in want of food; he 
can remove a comb that has become too old for use, 
examine the combs one by one, if disease or the nests 
of hostile insects are suspected ; or again he can carry 
