FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 159 



but merely go up and down through it and keep to work in 

 the super above. But it is not so well to have them working 

 so far from the brood-nest with empty space beneath. 



No bait-seetion is needed in any super after the first. 



EMPTY SUPERS ON TOP. 



Latterly I have fallen into the practice of giving an empty 

 super on top, even when an empty super is put under. This 

 for more than one reason. It sometimes happens that the up- 



Fig. 50 — Row of Lindens in Bloom. 



per starter of foimdation is not securely fastened the entire 

 length. If fastened half way across the top-bar of the section, 

 it will look all right, but if put under the other supers, next 

 to the brood-chamber, a heavy weight of bees coming upon it 

 suddenly will drag down the foundation at one side. If put 

 on top, the bees will enter the super only gradually, and the 

 foundation will be fastened in place before any great weight 

 of bees comes upon it. This empty super on top gives a less 

 crowded feeling, and may help a little toward preventing 

 swarming. No matter how full or empty the lower super may 

 be, this top super serves as a sort of safety valve, in case any 



