go A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



for room j the hive is lifted up, and a ring like the rim 

 of a sieve, in either straw or wood, placed on the floor- 

 board and the hive placed on it ; the Bees will then 

 continue their combs downwards, and will usually not 

 swarm. If more room is still required, add another eke. 

 When full, the ekes may be severed from the main hive 

 by a wire, but the honeycomb in them will only be fit 

 for run-honey, as it will be contaminated with brood and 

 Bee-bread. The straw-hivists, who boast of their i6o 

 pounds of contents in a straw hive, reckon the ekes as a 

 part of the hive ; in the rare case of this extreme weight 

 being attained, one-third at least would be dross. 



A nadir is another complete but empty hive, with 

 open feed-hole, placed below an over full one, where the 

 Bees have been hanging out. These should be cemented 

 together at the junction, and the Bees will then go down 

 through the feed-hole, and fill the lower hive with combs 

 in which the Queen will breed ; the upper hive may at 

 the end of the season be removed, and the combs cut 

 out for run-honey. The only advantage, and that is a 

 doubtful one, I can see in nadirs is, that the Bees get 

 new combs for old ones, and swarming is prevented, if 

 undesirable. Neither ekes nor nadirs are much used in 

 the South of England. 



Frame Hives. — When my opinion is asked, what 

 hives I recommend for use, I say without hesitation 

 FRAME HIVES ; but if the interrogation proceeds 

 further, and I am asked what particular hive, I answer, I 

 advocate the principle only. It matters little to the 

 Bees, or the profit they will produce, whether the hive is 

 made of the finest mahogany or the commonest deal ; 

 and nine-tenths of the little absurd intricacies which 

 hive-makers delight to furnish their hives with serve 

 but to increase expense, and confuse the unfortunate 



