u 



the upper super as well as proceed to build combs in the new 

 one provided between the upper one and the brood chamber. 

 (If the extra super is placed on the top of the occupied one, 

 it is quite possible that instead of entering it, and commencing 

 CO work, the bees will swarm.) Another advantage is that, 

 as the heat of the hive rises, the temperature in the top super 

 will be higher than elsewhere, so that the ripening of the honey 

 by the evaporation of the excessive moisture contained in the 

 newly-stored honey in the cells will be accomplished more 

 quickly. 



When the honey flow commences to decline it is better 

 to allow the bees to complete those supers already in situation 

 than to give extra ones. The former procedure will procure 

 a complete and well-matured harvest, while the latter will 

 result in a large quantity of unfinished work, and honey of 

 an inferior quality. It is an advantage at this stage to proceed 

 as follows: — If there are say three supers on, all should be 

 removed. From each super should be taken out those combs 

 which are completed and sealed over. The remainder will 

 probably be accommodated by one super in which they should 

 be placed and returned to the bees for completion. 



Supers are fit for final removal from the bees only when 

 all the honey is hermetically sealed over with wax. This 

 is not done by the bees until the honey is ripe, i.e., when the 

 excessive moisture has evaporated, and such a density obtained, 

 that when the honey is extracted and stored it will remain 

 sound and will not ferment. 



The bees are cleared from the supers by means of an 

 escape (Fig. 6) from which it will be seen that the bees pass 

 through a hole into a passage-way in which there axe two 

 springs placed in a " V " shaped position. This escape is 

 fitted into a clearing board (Fig. 6) consisting of a cleated 

 board so made that it entirely covers the top of the brood 

 chamber. The clearing board, with the escape in position is 

 placed in the evening under the super or supers which it is 

 desired to remove. The only means of exit for the bees is 

 from the wide ends of the springs in the escape, which are 

 so finely adjusted that the bees can push them apart to pass 

 out at the points, but are unable to return when the springs 

 are closed. Any attempts to return result in the springs being 

 closed more tightly. In twelve hours or less the super or 

 supers will be quite free from bees, and can be removed. In 

 the case of comb honey all that is necessary is to remove the 

 sections, clean, and store them in a dark, warm, dry and dust- 

 proof cupboard, until required. 



Extraction. — The honey in the shallow combs must be 

 extracted as soon as it is removed from the hive,- while the 

 honey is still warm. If it is allowed to get cold it will not 

 leave the cells so readily. If, however, a period must elapse 

 between removal and extraction the supers should be stored in 



