28 MANAGEMENT OF SUPERS. 



prices, sections should have the comb on each side per- 

 fectly even and flat, and the sealing, or capping, of the cells 

 should be quite white. To secure the first, slips of tin, 

 called separators, are placed between the sections, and the 

 bees are compelled to leave space for themselves to pass, 

 and work between the face of the comb and the tin. If 

 sections are left long on the hive after sealing, they get dis- 

 coloured by the constant running of the bees over the face 

 of the comb, but the trouble of removing single sections, 

 almost at the moment of completion, is so great as to make 

 it unprofitable, unless there is some special object in view. 

 Most bee-keepers wait until all the sections in the crate are 

 completed or sealed, when all are taken oif together, and, if 

 not too late in the season, another crate is placed on the 

 hive. The removal of a crate of sections is thus effected : 

 On a fine day, the cover of the hive is raised, and a dinner- 

 knife is passed under the crate to loosen it from the frames 

 as much as possible. The crate is then caught with both 

 hands, and slightly twisted round, but not enough to permit 

 the escape of bees. The quilt is then lifted off, and, by 

 means of a few vigorous puffs of smoke sent in between the 

 tops of the sections, nearly every bee is driven out of them 

 down into the hive. The crate can then be lifted off, 

 and it should be covered with a cloth to protect it from 

 wasps or robbing bees. If it is not intended to place any 

 more sections on the hive the quilt should be laid over the 

 frames without delay, and the hive can be closed. 



CHAPTER V. 



Some bee-keepers think it more profitable to produce ex- 

 tracted honey — that is, honey without comb — ^than section 

 honey, and some good reasons can be given in support of 

 this view. Section honey, undoubtedly, brings a much 

 higher price, and is much more attractive to the eye, than 

 extracted honey. On the other hand, it is much more 

 troublesome to produce, and is more easily injured when 

 sending to market. Extracted honey can be forwarded 

 from place to place in large jars with the least possible risk 



