1908 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



499 



FIG. 3. 



-ODTSIDE OF THE BOX HIVE REMOVED, SHOWING THE 

 APPEARANCE OF THE INTERIOR. 



means of the board 

 both frame and comb 

 are tilted safely to the 

 proper angle. To se- 

 cure the combs in po- 

 sition 1 find rubber 

 bands more convenient 

 than strings. The size 

 depends upon the 

 frame, of course; but, 

 roughly speaking, they 

 ought to be, when un- 

 stretched, about one- 

 third the width of the 

 frame. An assistant 

 can slip these on in 

 a few seconds, the 

 frame being projected 

 over the end of the 

 table for the purpose. 

 Four is an average 

 number for a frame. 

 If rubber bands are 

 not handy, then a soft 

 string, such as binder- 

 twine, is good. Make 

 two turns at one end 

 of the frame so as to 

 catch one end of the 

 string; then wind to 

 the other end of the 

 frame; cast a loop, or 

 make any kind of a 

 knot, and the job is 

 done. Get the frame 

 into the hive as quick- 

 ly as possible, so that 



dimensions of the frame. Then re- 

 move the frame and cut right 

 through, but preferably keeping to 

 the outside of the bounding lines so 

 that, when you replace the frame, 

 the comb will have to be squeezed 

 into place. If the original comb was 

 both longer and wider than the 

 frame your task will be easy; but 

 this rarely happens, even when trans- 

 ferring to small frames, and so you 

 will have gaps at the corners and 

 ends. The remedy is easy: Put a 

 piece of comb larger than the gap 

 on top of it, never minding how the 

 new piece is turned; then cut through 

 both combs; remove the trimmings, 

 and force the new piece into the 

 hole, where, of course, it will fit 

 perfectly. All this is a long story, 

 but in practice I find it takes 45 

 minutes from the first puff of smoke 

 to the moment the cover goes on 

 the new hive, so about three minutes 

 is time enough to spend on each 

 frame. 



You were advised to place the 

 comb on top of a board. You will 

 see why. The frame has to be 

 brought to the perpendicular; and 

 if you try to lift it bodily the pieces 

 of comb will simply fall out; but by 



FIG. 4. 



-BOX OF BEES PLACED IN FRONT OF THE 

 ENTRANCE OF THE HIVE. 



