PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 39 
are braced on the combs against the rising movement, then lower the 
comb with a quick jerk and the bees will fall to the hive. This 
repeated several times will serve to get most of the bees off. The 
former mode of shaking is perhaps more desirable when there are 
young bees on the combs in any number, as these bees will then 
be shaken into the hive and not onto the ground as might be the 
case if the latter plan were followed. The latter plan is much more 
convenient and when the bees are old enough to fly, is entirely satis- 
factory. In either case the few bees remaining on the combs to- 
gether with those that may re-alight may be removed by brushing 
them lightly either with a light brush made for the purpose or with 
a wing feather taken from a turkey or similar bird. This feather 
should be taken from the left wing as before noted, as this gives the 
curve in the right direction and the wide feather portion in con- 
tact with the comb for brushing when operated in the right hand. 
But to return to the matter of manipulation of the combs of the 
brood chamber, in order to increase the brood area. To ac- 
complish this successfully it takes judgment and experience. In 
general combs filled with brood,—i. e. eggs and young larvae,—may 
be moved toward the outside. Care should be taken, however, in 
a weak colony not to spread unsealed brood too much, especially’ 
early in the spring during cool weather. The combs with sealed 
or emerging brood may be placed next and then in or near the cen- 
ter, empty combs inserted for the queen to fill with eggs. The in- 
sertion of an empty comb in this way is a good plan to follow if one 
finds trouble, for any reason, in locating a queen. The next day the 
gueen is almost sure to be caught on the inserted comb. 
In inserting frames of full sheet comb foundation they should be 
placed between full combs so that there will not be too much vacant 
space in the center of the hive, as this may divide the brood nest. 
Again, if the starters only are used, i. e. narrow strips of foundation 
in the frames, placing the inserted frames thus, is more likely to in- 
sure getting straight and even combs. Asa rule, it is best, however, 
tu use full sheets of foundation and wire the frames as described 
in the section on Starting an Apiary. Starters may be used in 
second swarms or in colonies where there are young queens, as 
where there is an old queen there is a great tendency for the bees 
from instinct to build drone comb for the same reason that an old 
queen is found laying drone eggs. In a very strong colony, when 
