34 



MANUAL OF APICULTURE. 



To recapitulate: To secure easy, rapid, and safe manipulation accu- 

 rately made hives, with the frames, if hanging, arranged to rest on 

 folded metal rabbets, and the combs perfectly straight, are essential. 

 It is equally important also that some one of the gentler races be kept 



Fig. 17.— Quinby closed-end frames. (From A B C of Bee Culture.; 



Further ore, a good bee smoker fed with dry fuel is necessary, while 

 the bee escape to clear supers without manipulation of combs is a great 

 help. Quilts, queen excluders, and bee escapes reduce the amount of 

 manipulation required, and at the same time facilitate what is abso- 

 lutely necessary. 



In general, the best time to manipulate hives is when most of the 

 bees are busy in the fields. The young bees left at home are most easily 

 controlled and the old ones returning are generally laden. 



