A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE ECONOMY OF THE HIVE. 



DESIRING to place a few important matters before the 

 uninitiated reader in as simple a manner as possible, I 

 will begin with the establishment of a new swarm, and explain the 

 various phases of its existence until that in its turn is prepared to 

 send forth its own increase. 



Presuming that our swarm has been duly hived in movable 

 frames, each of which has a wax guide down the centre of the top 

 bar, we shall find that the bees begin to extend themselves in 

 festoons from the highest point should the hive not stand on the 

 level ; if perfectly flat, then the cluster is formed near to one side, 

 and forthwith waxen cells are added to the guide placed to 

 ensure straight building. If the weather is favourable, the delicate 

 ■white comb will be found to increase rapidly in a semicircular 

 form, until the centre reaches to within ^-inch of the lower rail 

 of the frame, when the side spaces are soon filled in. Sometimes 

 combs will be started in different places along the guide, and as 

 the circular edge of each nears its neighbour, these are joined, 

 and the several united continued as one comb. 



By using a sheet of glass next above the frames, or better 

 still my glass rail sections, kept warm with woollen material, the 

 interesting operation of comb-building may be watched. Many 

 bees will be seen with strips of wax just removed from the " wax 



