33° ^^ Modern Bee-Farm 



to add other swarms within a few days, these can be hived 

 in upper crates without their queen. 



All the above has reference to the profitable production 

 of wax, and I shall be excused for bringing these par- 

 ticulars of management in here, more particularly as the 

 whole question has received but little attention from bee- 

 keepers generally. 



When Foundation may be used to advantage. 



Now 1 do not consider that foundation is always used in 

 the stock chamber at a loss ; in fact it can be adopted at 

 considerable profit when extension of stock is the object. 



A bee-keeper may wish to largely increase his stock of 

 both bees and combs, and then considerable time will be 

 gained by taking advantage of foundation ; though it 

 should be borne in mind that increase is obtained at the 

 expense of honey. 



When the honey season arrives we have to be prepared 

 with plenty of storage room, and therefore nothing less 

 than full sheets of foundation can be tolerated in our 

 sections, while if already drawn out in preparation for the 

 harvest, the results will be far better. If suitable founda- 

 tion with a thin base is used there will be no difference to 

 be distinguished between such combs and those built from 

 starters only, while the appearance of the surface when 

 capped will be much better than that of those so often 

 finished off with drone cells. 



While the profitable production of wax will be carried 

 out by those who have completed their stock, much will 

 depend upon locality, as well as the culture of bees most 

 suited to the purpose. 



Wax Extractors. 



Solar wax extractors are frequently used, with a large 

 surface of glass, on a frame ; all being air-tight, enclosing 



