222 NATURAL SWARMING. 



would infer, but on the contrary it evidences the fact that it 

 costs the bees a great deal of honey to produce the comb, 

 since they can save enough to fill the combs in the same time 

 that it would take them to build those combs. In localities 

 where this condition proves to be common, it is best to use 

 the built combs only in making artificial (469) increase, or 

 with weak swarms. A very small quantity of bees with a 

 good queen and built combs will soon make a powerful col- 

 ony. But in poor honey seasons, when it is difficult for 

 swarms to harvest enough to build their combs, a hive full of 

 combs proves a great boon to them, even if the swarm is 

 large. 



426. It is very important that the frames should hang 

 true in the hive, and at the proper distance apart (316). If 

 the hive has to be removed, they should be previously fastened 

 in their places, by the use of small wire nails only partly 

 driven, and removed later. If, however, a frame spacer is used 

 (fig. 76) this will not be necessary. The cloth (352) and 

 mat (353) should be carefully placed over the frames, or the 

 swarm would build and raise brood in the upper story, in- 

 tended only for surplus honey. 



427. When the hive is thus prepared and placed in a con- 

 venient position, the entrance should be opened as wide as 

 possible. If it has a movable-bottom-board, it should be raised 

 from it in front (344), and the entrance-blocks inserted un- 

 der its edges, so as to leave a larger passage for the swarm, 

 that the bees may get in as soon as possible; and a well- 

 stretched sheet, or coarse cloth, should be securely fastened to 

 the alighting-board, to keep them from becoming separated, 

 or soiled by dirt ; for, if separated, they are a long time in 

 entering; and a bee covered with dust or dirt is very apt to 

 ]3erish. Bees are much obstructed in their travel, by any cor- 

 ner, or great inequality of surface; and if the sheet is not 

 smoothly stretched, they are often so confused, that it takes 

 them a long time to find the entrance to the hive. 



428. If the bees have alighted on a small limb, which can 



