§ VII. EKES AND NADIRS.
We allude to these for the sake of explaining the terms, and as they are adjuncts sometimes recommended for temporary enlargement. They are further contrivances for the prevention of swarming, but they differ from supers in being added below instead of above the stock hive. Briefly, an eke is a half-hive so added, and a nadir an entire one. An example of an eke is sometimes met with when a common skep is cut horizontally in half, and the lower portion placed beneath an entire skep hive. For an instance of a nadir we have only to refer to the Stewarton hive. Ekes and nadirs give increased room to the bees, but they of course do not answer the purpose of supers in providing honey free from the admixture of brood.