;66 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v. 



the super. The bees will begin sooner, and work faster, 

 if the bars are each furnished with guide-comb (as de- 

 scribed in the previous section). Combs that have 

 been left unfilled may be fixed to the bars, but these must 

 be white and clean, as dark comb should not be used for 

 super hives. 



§ XIV. REMOVING SUPERS. 

 The operation of taking honey is best performed on a 

 fine sunny day. The combs may be extracted singly, if 

 wished, for consumption, substituting an empty bar or 

 comb; or, should the bee-keeper desire to see a hand- 

 some super, he must wait until the bees have filled and 

 sealed up all the combs, and then he may proceed to 

 disconnect the super. If a bell glass, he will first pass a 

 table-knife round it underneath the rim; then with a 

 piece of string or fine wire, one end in each hand, he will 

 very slowly sever the remaining connection with the 

 board, so as to allow of the bees getting out of the way. 

 Wait an hour or so for the commotion to subside and to 

 give the bees time to repair broken cells and suck up 

 spilt honey. Then raise the glass and blow in a little 

 smoke, after which the slide that closes the roof of the 

 hive may be inserted, and above it another piece of zinc 

 that will cover the base of the super and hold the bees 

 in it close prisoners. After having confined theni in 

 the glass for a short time you must see whether they 

 ■manifest symptoms of uneasiness, because, if they do 

 not, it may be concluded that the queen is among them. 



