CONTROLLED INCREASE. 
249 
more heartily through the disguised blessing which 
has befallen -it — will henceforth, in this particular, be 
treated as those of the rest of the apiary. 
In forty-eight hours an examination may be made, 
when, if the combs appear firmly fixed, the tapes 
may be removed; but excessive haste is likely to be 
the precursor of disaster, as one comb falling will, 
like a tumbling skittle, knock down most of the others. 
Let the beginner who has concluded that artificial 
supports are no longer necessary, draw a sharp knife 
across the tapes, severing them upon the top bar of 
the frame, as it occupies its usual position ; it may 
then be gently raised, the perpendicular being care- 
fully preserved. The tapes, by a touch, can now be 
detached from each side, without giving the jar to the 
tender work so likely to lead to misfortune if the 
whole operation is carried out by the novice with the 
frame outside the hive. If the tapes be not removed, 
the bees will tease and fret them until they dislodge 
them literally fibre by fibre. Many years since, I had 
fastened in a comb by a string, and quite forgotten 
the circumstance, until, apparently, a piece of 
extremely thick chenille was observed, waving in a 
singular manner at the hive door. The chenille, as 
I approached, resolved itself into a dense chain of 
bees, most earnestly flying, while holding on to the 
string, which they had torn almost to fluff, had 
separated from their comb, and were endeavouring to 
eject altogether from their domain ; success being only 
delayed by the string locking itself between the hive 
and the bottom board. 
During any part of the honey -harvest, transferring 
