BEE-KEEPING IN BAR-FRAME HIVES. 



23^ 



them to shift their quarters, and enter the box that has been 

 placed for their reception. If it be found that they cannot be 

 dislodged in the way described, they can be taken out with the 

 hand or a tea-cup. Care must be taken not to crush any of the 

 bees, as it may cause them to lose their temper. 



In taking a swarm of bees from a tree, always, if possible, see 

 that you have the queen. She is easily recognised by her size. 

 When you have once seen a queen bee, you will soon learn to pick 

 her out. Should you be so fortunate as to see her, take her up 

 by the wing or the shoulders (she will not sting you), and put her 

 into the box with a few workers. The other bees will soon find 

 out where she is, and follow on like a flock of sheep. 



The bee-brush is used for the purpose of removing the bees 

 from the comb when you wish to have the comb entirely free from 

 occupants. A bunch of leaves, especially fern fronds, makes a 

 very good one. With it brush the bees lightly from the comb back 

 into the hive. For the purposes of observation, enough of them 

 can be removed by holding the frame of comb over the hive, and 

 giving it a sudden jerk. 



Carpenters' bench tools, not a complete set, will be necessary, 

 only in the case when you prefer to make all the woodwork "on 

 the premises." 



FOUNDATION COMB.— This can be bought from dealers at 

 from Is. 9d. to 2s. per lb. There is what is termed brush founda- 

 tion. With a little practice this can be home-made. To do so, it will 

 be necessary to obtain from a dealer a plaster cast. Briefly, this 



Foundation Comb. 



is the way to produce it from the cast : Soak the cast in soap-suds 

 for a few minutes before using. Have a glue pot or other vessel 

 containing molten wax, which should be kept at almost boiling 

 point. A fair sized paint brush, with the bristles not too long, 

 should be kept in the wax during the time it is melting. With 

 this brush paint the molten wax over the plaster slab by one or 

 two rapid strokes. The fewer the strokes made with the brush the 



