PRIMARY SWARM. 217 



swarm is hived on a propitious day, otfierwise they will at- 

 tract robbers (60-4) and the presence of the latter will 

 prevent the swarm from entering the hive. For this reason, 

 combs containing honey should not be given to the swarm 

 until the following evening. 



424. In the absence of combs or comb-foundation, 

 (674) the triangular comb-guide will greatly help to se- 

 cure straight combs, in the frames, but it cannot be deiiend- 

 ed upon, in every case. Comb-foundation in full sheets is 

 so far superior, and is now in such general use, that the 

 triangular comb-guide (319) is discarded by most Apiarists. 

 By the use of comb-foundation, crooked combs, — the bane 

 of the Apiary— are no longer found, and every comb hangs 

 in its frame, as straight as a board. 



425. It has been held, of late, by some writers, that 

 the use of empty combs, or comb-foundation, was detri- 

 mental, in hiving natural swarms, because the bees filled the 

 combs given them, with honey, and left but little room for 

 the queen to lay. This actually takes place in extraordi- 

 nary seasons and locations, but in the greater number of 

 instances, the empty combs help the colony greatly, and, 

 in bad seasons, a hive-full of empty combs, furnished to a 

 swarm, is equivalent to saving it from starvation, since the 

 combs of a hive cost the bees almost as much honey as is 

 necessary for them to winter on (223). Should they fill 

 the combs nearly full of honey, this honey will be partly 

 used up during the dearth which usually comes after the 

 honey harvest, and will serve in rearing brood to 

 strengthen the hive before Winter. Better be safe than sorry. 



426. It is very important that the franies should hang 

 true in the hive, and at the proper distance apart (316). 

 If the hive has to be removed, they should be previously 

 fastened in their places, by the use of small wire nails only 

 partly driven, and removed later. The cloth (352) and 

 mat (353) should be carefully placed over tb« fra,mes, or 



