SUPERS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 117 



of the top bar : the wood is bent backwards in such a 

 way as to open the saw-cut : the edge of the sheet is 

 inserted, the cut closed, and all is secure. The founda- 

 tion may also be fixed in the same manner as described 

 for the frames. It is a debatable point whether the too 

 free use of the wax sheets for honeycomb which is to 

 be eaten is not inadvisable ; some say the comb manu- 

 factured on it has a toughness ; others maintain it to be 

 none the worse than comb made from the Bees' natural 

 sources. Experience will teach. The use of these 

 sections with us is yet in its infancy, but in America 

 for several years past ingenuity has been taxed to devise 

 the best form ; some have been manufactured of a very 

 ornamental character, but I think experience is gradually 

 proving that the simplest is the best both for the pro- 

 ducers and consumers. 



Fig. 43- 



Fig. 46. 



Fig. 45 shows a complete section box, and Fig. 46 one 

 of the broad frames containing eight of these. These 

 section frames are made the same width as the sections, 

 that is, 2 inches at the top, and if at the bottom. When 

 in position they occupy the two ends of the hive, the 

 difference in width at the bottom allowing the Bees free 

 passage between them ; they cannot strictly be called 

 " supers," but in this position the Queen will not fre- 

 quently use them for breeding purposes, if care be taken 

 that she has empty breeding-combs near the centre of 

 the hive. Bees store honey more rapidly in the brood- 



