272 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



Then we take an empty hive-body without any bottom- 

 board, and into it we put two frames of brood without 

 any bees from the first hive (a few bees will do no 

 harm), the same from the second, and the same from the 

 third, filling out the hive with two empty combs or combs 

 with some honey. In the middle of the hive is a pro- 

 visioned introducing-cage containing a laying queen. 

 Upon the fourth hive we put a queen-excluder, and on 



Fig. g2. — Improved Miller Queen-Cages. 



this we set our hive full of brood, and cover it up. 

 Three or four hours later, or twenty-four hours 

 later if more convenient, this hive is set upon a bottom- 

 board on a new stand, and the work is all done. A way 

 that is easier, and nearly as good, is to set the hive with 

 the six brood immediately in place of the fourth hive, 

 setting the fourth hive in a new place. The returning 

 field-bees will populate the new hive. Ten days or two 

 weeks later the performance may be repeated if the sea- 

 son is prosperous, and this may be repeated a number of 



