158 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



old colony, which is now very much reduced in bees; if there are 

 no newly-laid eggs, and they are starting queen cells, it is evident 

 that the queen is in the new stock, where in all cases she should 

 be; otherwise remove the queen from the old stock and give her 

 to the new one. By this method the stocks are doubled in 

 number. 



To increase by making only one from two old ones, remove all 

 the combs but one from a strong colony, substitute frames filled 

 with comb-foundation; now remove some strong colony to a new 

 stand, and set the hive containing these combs on the stand just 

 vacated. To divide in either of these two ways requires only from 

 three to five minutes, whereas in natural swarming twenty minutes 

 at least are required. 



The introduction of moveable comb-hives has made a complete 

 revolution in the interests of bee-culture ; it has brought into use 

 the extractor, comb-foundation, sectional frames for surplus honey, 

 and improved shipping boxes, and has given an insight to their 

 habits, and enabled us to settle disputed points which had always 

 been considered doubtful. 



Transferring from the common hives to the movable frames 

 should be done in the forepart of the season, after the weather 

 becomes settled. Some prefer the following method: Drive out 

 the bees into a box or old hive, and then transfer the combs, in a 

 tight room. Thi.s is the best plan for a novice, as it avoids annoy- 

 ance from robber bees. In transferring hundreds of stocks, this 

 has almost invariably been my method: After getting everything 

 necessary for the operation, a table-knife, pan, a ball of twine, a 

 cloth to spread in front of the empty hive, an ax, and a dish of 

 water, I blow a puff or two of smoke into the entrance, tip back 

 the hive, smoke them a little moi-e, then carefully turn the hive 

 bottom upwards a few feet from its stand, place the new hive on 

 the stand of the old one, immediately spUt down two sides of the 

 common hive with the ax into two-inch strips; this allows these 

 sides to be easily removed and exposes the comb ready for opera- 

 tions, during which the bees leave the combs and cluster on the 

 opposite side of the hive, and at any time can be brushed off on 

 to the cloth in front of the empty hive; now these combs can be 

 cut in size to just fit the frames, and may be fastened by winding 

 with twine. In transferring the combs to the frames, care should 

 be taken to have the same side up as before; as fast as the frames 



