FIFTY YEARS AAIONG THE BEES 61 



For I want the brood-nest to begin with the frame next to 

 the farther outside frame, at least that is generally the 

 way. Then I can tell at any time afterward how many 

 frames of brood are in a hive, merely by finding where 

 the brood begins on the side next me. One after another 

 the frames are changed into the empty hive, making sure 

 that at least those containing brood maintain their original 

 relative positions. 



\Mien the old hive is empty, then it is set oft* the 

 stand and the other takes its place. The order of proceed- 

 ing may be changed by first setting the full hive off the 

 stand and putting the empty one in its place. Or the 

 change may be made when half the frames have changed 

 their places. The last makes the lifting a little lighter, 

 but takes more time. 



The empty hive is now to be cleaned out, the hatchet 

 being used for all but the rabbet, which is a separate 

 contract. Propolis is used in large quantities in my local- 

 ity, and the trough formed by the tin rabbet will, in the 

 course of years, become completely filled. 



In the matter of propolis, there is a dift'erence in 

 bees as well as localities. The worst daubers I ever had 

 were the so-called Funics or Tunisians from the north 

 of Africa. One colony put so much propolis at an upper 

 entrance that I rolled up a ball of it somewhere between 

 the size of a hickorynut and a black walnut. 



To clean out the rabbet, the small end of the hive- 

 tool is well adapted. Holding it perpendicularly, with the 

 edge of the tool diagonally in the trough, I play it back- 

 ward and forward until the trough is emptied of propolis. 

 Still better is a screw-driver, rather sharp, ground tO' 

 just the right width to fit easily in the trough. 



The empty hive is now used to take the place of the 

 next hive to be overhauled, which in its turn is cleaned 

 and then used again, and so on. 



\\Tiile the frames are being changed from one hive 

 to the other, observations and necessary changes are 

 made. If there is no cleaning of hives, then the work i? 

 shortened. The dummv is taken out, and one frame is^ 



