THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 
443 
In this partial separation of the brood-nest from the 
honey-chamber, the contents of which man appro- 
priates, several advantages are gained : Firstly, comb 
In the body of the hive, however situated, is much more 
liable to be visited by the queen, and spoilt for table 
use by the deposition of eggs, than is that in super- 
added surplus receptacles. Secondly, the close contact 
of nursery work, and the continual tramp of the busy 
throng, soon mar the dainty purity which distinguishes 
comb when first modelled by the wax-workers. Thirdly, 
the honey of the separated chamber Is scarcely ever 
mingled with pollen : the latter substance is the staple 
material for forming brood and queen foods, and is 
therefore normally placed, for the convenience of the 
nurses, within reach of the cells containing eggs or 
larvae. On the other hand, it is scarcely required at 
all in the winter, honey being then needed to main- 
tain temperature; and since pollen cannot, like honey, 
be transferred from cell to cell, but after storing must 
remain until It Is consumed, it Is not mixed by the 
bees with that store that is distinctly marked off by 
their instincts as for winter use. Pollen Is also more 
completely kept out of our supers by causing them 
to be furnished with thick combs, whose deep cells 
are commonly avoided by the pollen-gatherers. 
With the introduction of the frame hive, the pro- 
ductiveness of individual colonies was greatly in- 
creased, while It was made evident that bees could be 
induced to store In any receptacle, however placed, if 
only sufficiently connected wdth the brood-nest to be 
warmed by it. From this It is apparent that supers, 
all things considered, yielded the best results, and not 
