CONTROLLED INCREASE. 
243 
of every bee that can be induced to depart by 
driving, we proceed to draw all sticks (if such 
exist), either seizing them by a pair of nippers at the 
projecting ends, and rotating them to detach them 
from the combs, or we minimise the destruction of 
bee handiwork by sacrificing the skep, simply cutting 
it in half, while inverted, by passing through its sides, 
and between the combs, a sharp dinner-knife. If we 
refuse, from notions of economy, to destroy the skep, 
honey-knives may be employed. Of these, two form 
a set — one, used to cut combs from the sides of the 
skep, and which a piece of straight hoop-iron, from 
I4in. to I Sin. long, and ground to an edge at the 
end, may well replace ; while the other is formed of 
an iron or steel rod about iSin. long and -j^in. thick, 
having 2in. at the extremity turned to a right angle. 
The latter part is formed into a cutting blade, the 
surface of which is horizontal when the rod is held 
in the perpendicular position. The first knife having 
performed its work of separating the combs at the 
sides, the second is brought into play. Having 
slipped it down by the side of the comb, it is turned 
so as to bring its blade into position for cutting from 
the hive roof. 
Instead of these knives, I much prefer my home- 
made device, which consists of two thin, bluntly- 
pointed, wooden laths, sufficiently long to pass between 
the combs to the roof, while held firmly. Around 
these, when placed one on the other, a piece of 
tinned wire. No. 30 (the same as that used for wiring 
foundation), is passed loosely from points to ends, so 
that the laths can be held about ijin. apart by draw- 
