8IJ2 ANNllAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc 



TRANSFERRING. 



Changing bees from a common box-hive into a movable-comb hive 

 is called transferring. Such transferring may be done at any time, 

 but until lately the favorite time has been at the time when fruit 

 trees ai'e in bloom. At that time there are fewer bees and less 

 honey in the hive, and the bees will fix up the combs better while 

 they are doing some work at gathering. 



Have ready a board a little larger than one of the frames, and half 

 a dozen or more strings for each frame, each string long enough 

 to reach around the frame, and tie. Turn the box-hive upside down 

 and set it down close by, putting the new hive in its place. Of 

 course you will give the bees a little smoke at the beginning, and a 

 little more at any time they show light. Set over the box-hive an 

 empty box that is somewhere near the same size, the open part 

 of the box down. Drum on the sides of the hive with a heavy stick 

 in each hand. If the hive and box do not fit well together, ©ome of 

 the bees may start to come out of the cracks. Smoke them in and 

 keep on drumming. In a little while the bees will make a loud 

 buzzing, which is not a sign of anger, but a sign of capitulation. 

 They will then run up into the box, and when nearly all have gone 

 up, lift off the box and set it on the ground, open end still down. 



Now, with saw^, hammer and chisel, as you may find necessary, 

 si)lit off one or more sides of the hive. Have your board ready with 

 strings laid across it. Put the comb or combs on the board, lay 

 a frame ovc-:*, and mark with a knife where the inside of the frame 

 comes. Take off' the frame, cut off the part outside of your marking 

 and then slip the frame over the comb. Let it be rather a tight fit, 

 so it will be a little crowded in the frame. Now tie your strings. 

 It doesn't matter if the combs are put in upside down. Sometimes 

 it will be more convenient for you to ])ut in some pieces that way. 

 Lift up the board with the frame on it, and turn it so the frame 

 will be right side up, and then remove the board and hang the 

 frame in the hive. Now dumj) the bees down in fi'ont of Hie new 

 hive and let them run in. Thev will be glad to find the comb there. 

 Get out the rest of the combs and transfer all good, sti'aight worker 

 comb, rejecting drone comb and any that are too crooked. Some 

 nice chunks of honey may be saved for the table. Fill u]) the new 

 hive with frames filled with comb foundation. The bees will pro- 

 ceed to fasten the combs in the frames, and will gnaw out the strings. 



V«.ii will proliably find it more satisfactory to take a different 

 plan. \\'ait until the colony in the box-hive swarms, when you will 

 liive the swniin in a inoval)le-(omb hive, putting the swarm on the 

 old stand and lln' old hive two or three feet from it. If the colony 



