11 
or two feet if there are other hives close by. The bee-keeper 
can profitably take advantage of this habit of the bee when he 
wishes to make artificial swarms (XXIII.). 
When, in the early summer, the beekeeper observes that few 
of the bees are carrying balls of yellow 
16. Signs of Honey pollen on their hind legs, while many are 
Flow flying rapidly to and from the hive, he 
may conclude that ‘‘ the honey-flow ”’ has 
commenced. He should then make sure that plenty of empty 
comb is provided in the super (XIII.) for the storage of the 
honey. 
Honey as gathered by the bees contains certain gases and an 
excess of water, but after a short time the 
17. Ripening of warmth of the hive causes the gases and 
Honey. water to evaporate, and the honey becomes 
‘““matured” or “ripe.” The time re- 
quired to bring about this change depends very much on the 
heat of the hive, and this is one of the reasons why it is desirable 
to keep hives warmer in summer than in winter. When the 
honey is ripe, but not before, the bees will cover over the cells 
with a thin film of wax, which is called “ capping,” and the 
beekeeper can thus easily distinguish ripe from unripe 
honey. 
III. HIVES, APPLIANCES, ACCESSORIES, AND 
THEIR USES. 
Much of the success achieved in modern beekeeping is due to 
the great improvement effected in the form 
18. Bar-Frame of hive used. The production of honey for 
Hives. sale or consumption can be carried on 
much more profitably by using bar-frame 
hives instead of skeps or fixed-comb hives; this is now so 
universally admitted that it is not necessary to specify the 
advantages of bar-frame hives. The type of bar-frame hive 
recommended for use and described in this manual is known 
as the “C. D. B.” hive (Fig. 1). This hive, and others of a 
somewhat similar design as regards size and detail, possess the 
following good points :— 
(a.) They provide ample space to permit of the queen being 
enabled to utilise her laying powers to the fullest 
extent. 
(b.) The construction is such that the hive can be taken 
asunder, thus facilitating the cleansing or examination 
of any part. 
(c.) The capacity of the hive can be increased as occasion 
may require for storing surplus honey above the brood 
chamber, and it may be contracted so as to be 
thoroughly suitable for wintering bees (180). 
As this type of bar-frame hive, with the frames hanging 
parallel to the hive front, is in general use in Ireland, and as it 
