192 



ARTIFICIAL SWAEMS. 



were finished, 

 a divided hive. 



I once had three swarms from each half of 



TOO MANY DRONE COMBS FOB PROFIT. 



It would be well to ascertain as soon as the next day 

 which half has the queen, and take off any cells begun in 

 her apartment. In the other hive, before they have 

 hatched a queen, they will mate altogether too many drone 

 combs for profit, in a stock-hive. 



The honey now stored in these combs is in bad shape, 

 and unless wanted for home consumption, some measures 

 should be taken to have it in suitable shape for market. 

 To cut them out, and transfer to the surplus boxes is at- 

 tended with much trouble and some waste. I prefer to 

 have it made directly in the boxes by the bees. But as 

 they will not now go to the top of the hive to fiU boxes, 

 I put them inside in this way. 



nONBT MADE IN BOXES Uf THE HIVE. 



Put a cross-piece some two inches wide in the centre of 

 the frame and an- 

 other at the bot- 

 tom, thus. — Set on 

 these, boxes of the 

 usual size, with the 

 glass removed on 

 the side, next the 

 comb and ^bees. 

 The guide-combs 

 should be put in 

 parallel with the 

 other combs, else 

 they might be worked fast to them. If your- hive is of 

 the right size, you will have no difficulty, but if too shal- 

 low, as most movable comb hives are, it may be necessary 

 to make surplus boxes for the purpose. 



Fig. 24.- 



-FKAME TO HOLD BOXES INSIDE THE 

 niVE. 



