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dr. Miller's 
A. Sometimes it will; generally it will not. Giving plenty of 
room is one of the things that help to prevent swarming, but it 
is only a help, and not a reliable preventive. 
Q. When is the best time to put supers on hives? Do bees 
necessarily accumulate on the outside of the hive before 
swarming? 
A. The best time to put on supers depends a little upon what 
you may desire. If you are anxious for increase through natural 
swarming, it may be best to delay putting on supers till after the 
harvest is under way, for crowding the brood-chamber with honey 
will have the effect of starting the bees into the notion of 
swarming. Indeed, it would make a more sure thing of the 
swarming if no super should be given until after the bees have 
actually swarmed. Generally, however, the desire is for honey 
rather than swarms. In that case the super should be given be- 
fore there is any danger of crowding the brood-chamber with 
honey. A little too soon is better than a little too late. One way 
is to watch the flowers from which the harvest is expected, and 
put on supers as soon as they appear in quantity. In your region 
white clover is probably the thing for you to watch. Another way 
is to watch the condition of the brood-chamber, aftd put on su- 
pers when the brood-combs begin to be crowded with honey. The 
old rule was to give supers when white wax begins to be plastered 
on the upper parts of the comb; a good rule in most cases, but for 
those who prefer not to have any swarming (even though it may 
be a rare thing for the bees to respect their wishes) it is better 
to have supers on before the bees get so far as to secrete this ex- 
tra wax. 
Q. When a super is nearly full of honey, is it best to put 
another super on top and let the bees get well to working before 
“under-supering?” 
A. When a super is something like half filled and the prospect 
is good for a continuous yield, put a new super under. You may 
at the same time put an empty super on top, ready to be put 
next to the hive at the next shift. 
Q. In the early part of the honey-flow, in putting on extra su- 
pers, do you put them underneath those already on top? 
A. The second super is put under the first, and at the same 
time another empty is put on top. This last serves as a safety 
valve in case the bees should need more room. There is another 
important advantage. With the best care it will sometimes hap- 
