§xv.j THE STEWARTON HIVE. 153 



removing supers (Chap. V. § xiv.). The super box is 

 disconnected with a spatula and twine ; then drawing out , 

 one or two top slides, the bees are smoked or blown 

 with bellows to cause them to make their exit. 



Before winter sets in, the box c, if in use, may be re- 

 moved, and the comb it contains (if well filled) be used 

 for consumption ; if the comb be empty, let it remain 

 carefully guarded from moth and other insects, as it will 

 be invaluable next season. Empty comb may be thus 

 preserved by tying or pasting a piece of stout newspaper 

 closely round the bottom, and keeping the box in a dry 

 place. Feeding, when required, may be liberally pursued 

 by withdrawing two slides and supplying a bottle or 

 other feeder. 



The chief value of the Stewarton supers consists in the 

 boxes being shallow, so that the combs are more likely to 

 be well filled down to the base ; the bees will also com- 

 mence work more readily in such than in loftier compart- 

 ments. This is a great advantage with supers, particu- 

 larly when required to be sent to a distance, as there is 

 less likelihood of the combs breaking down. For the 

 same reason, when the weather is hot and the rays of the 

 sun fall on the hive, the combs might part from their 

 foundations if there were no intermediate bars, which is 

 now the case in the stock hive, composed as it is of two 

 boxes. If these two boxes were in one, the depth of each 

 comb would be twelve inches ; and, when filled with 

 brood and honey, would probably weigh ten pounds. 



