MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

THOUSAND ANSWERS 209without danger of thrusting the fingers in them. Although Imight never jam my fingers into a plain section, the danger comeswhen the retail grocer handles them. But even while in the beekeeper'shands, they must be handled with more care, which meansmore time. A plain section tumbles over more easily than a beewaysection. A plainer, cheaper separator goes with the beeway.On the other hand, it takes a smaller case for plain than for beewaysections, although it's easier to lift the beeways out of thecase.Q. In using beeway sections, do you put the beeway at thebottom, or at the side?A. The beeways are to allow a way for the bees to go up, sothey are at the top and bottom of the section.Q. Is there any advantage in the sections open four sides,or open top and bottom only, or only on bottom? If there is any,what is it?A. At one time it was claimed that with the four sides openthe bees would have more free communication, and would fill outthe capping to the wood better. The few that I tried did notseem to have this advantage. A section open top and bottomis absolutely necessary if you tier up. If you never use more thanone super at a time the opening at the bottom would be enough.Q. (a) What style of section would you advise? I had thoughtof the ideal, S^xSxli^, plain.(b) Are not many of the best plain sections ruined for shippingby the bees drawing them a little beyond the wood?A. (a) After trying more or less the different kinds of sections,I settled down some time ago upon the 2-beeway sections,4J4x4J4x1%. I think this is the preference of the great majority ofcomb-honey producers.(b) I don't think there is so much objection on that score asthere is because the plain require so much more care in handlinglest the fingers be thrust into the comb when they are handled.More care must always be taken in setting down a plain section,lest it topple over. During cleaning, the plain section is morelikely to be injured. In general it may be said that the projectionof the wood in a beeway section is a protection, although it hasmore of a lean look than the plain.Q. Which section is better for the 8-frame super, the 4J4x4j4xly^ or the 4x5x15^ section?A. There is little to choose, but most beekeepers would prefer4j4x4^xl^ to either.