210 
DR. MILLERS 
Q. What about two-pound sections? 
A. They had the field when sections were introduced years 
ago, but side by side brought 2 cents a pound less than the 1- 
pounds; so that notwithstanding the less labor in their produc- 
tion, they were driven out of the market. It is somewhat doubt- 
ful whether they would do any better now. 
Section-Folding. — Q. How should I manage the sections? 
Must they be wet before bending, or bent dry? I see a hand- 
machine advertised for bending them. Would you advise the use 
of one, or bend by hand? v 
A. Sometimes sections can be put together all right without 
wetting; generally too many of them will break unless the joints 
are wet. If you have many sections to fold, you will find it better 
to have some kind of section-press. 
Sections, Short Weight. — Q. It rather displeases me that my 
sections of honey (1912), while looking well, averaged in weight 
only 13 ounces, while about all the others I weighed in this neigh- 
borhood weighed at least 14 ounces, and sometimes more. Are 
there any reasons evident for such discrepancy? In 1912 I had 
five times more honey than in 1911. 
A. You will probably find that in flush years, when honey 
comes in rapidly, combs will be filled out more plumply than in a 
slow flow, perhaps because in a slow flow the bees have more 
time to build wax and seal combs. You will also find that they 
will fill combs more plumply if crowded for room. Like enough 
you gave the bees more surplus room than your neighbors did. 
Taking one year with another, you are probably the gainer by it. 
Sections, Taking Off. — Q. Do you take off sections as fast as 
finished, or do you leave all on until the flow is over? 
A. Neither. I take off each super as soon as it is finished, or 
finished all but a little at the outside corners. 
Q. What is the best way to get the bees from the sections 
when I remove the super? If one should take the super a dis- 
tance from the hive and brush them off, would they go back to 
the hive, or would they get lost? 
A. The Porter bee-escape is a nice thing to use if you have 
time to wait for it; and if you want more prompt work, there is, 
perhaps, nothing better than the Miller tent-escape, which latter 
you can make yourself. It is probable that you do not have 
enough honey to make it worth while to have an escape; yet I 
think if I had as many as five colonies I should make a Miller 
escape. Without having an escape there are several ways to pro- 
