REMOVING SUPERS FROM THE HIFE. 41 



Another feature about this hive is the improvement in 

 the moveable wooden top, worked in the straw; the plug 

 we have found very convenient both for supering and feed- 

 ing. Hives of Pettigrew's pattern are also sold by Mr. 

 Yates. These differ in having a flat top with a straw 

 plug in the centre. We do not recommend a flat top hive 

 for the simple reason that when an ordinary sized swarm is 

 introduced they commence the formation of the combs at 

 the side, or often in the corners, thus the combs are all 

 irregular and unevenly built, which hinders both the breed- 

 ing and honey storing; in other respects they are excellent 

 sleeps. 



What we chiefly want is the small cottage skep, about 

 twelve inches square internally, as strongly made as those 

 of Yates's pattern ; we have seldom seen these monster 

 hives do any real service as honey-hives, but rather the 

 reverse. 



REMOVING SUPERS FROM THE HIVE. 



Many bee-keepers experience great difficulty when re- 

 moving their supers at the close of the season, about August, 

 to get rid of the bees, for they seem most reluctant to quit 

 the richly-laden combs. Sometimes we are recommended to 

 place them in a shady part of the garden at a distance from 

 the apiary, when finding out the loss of their queen they 

 rapidly leave the super. We have done this to find in a few 

 hours all the honey taken out of the combs by robber bees 

 far cleaner than I could have performed the operation. 



Mr. Cheshire exhibited a little contrivance at the Crystal 

 Palace Honey Show which attracted much attention, and 

 we have since found it most useful. It is a simple trap, which, 

 whilst allowing the bees to escape, prevents them from 

 again entering the super if ordinary care be exercised. It 

 can be made in a few minutes by even a lady amateur. 



