FlFl V YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



275 



times. Of course empty combs or foundation will take 

 the place of the two frames of brood drawn from each 

 hive. An advantage of this plan is that it makes a 

 strong colony at once, and there is no danger of being 

 caught with a number of weaklings on a sudden cessa- 



Vr^« »««••»«» 



fig- 92- — Caged Queen-Cell. 



tion of the harvest. Each new colony formed will in 

 its turn soon be able to take its part in the game to start 

 still others. 



SHAKING BEES OFF COMBS. 



In this last plan, since the frames of brood are taken 

 without bees, there is a good deal to be done in the way 

 of cleaning bees off the combs. While it does not mat- 

 ter if a few bees should be left on the combs, it does mat- 

 ter greatly that care be taken to make sure that the qreen 

 is not among the bees taken. So it is well to brush the 

 combs tolerably clean, and then one can easily see 

 whether the queen is present. Before brushing, how- 

 ever, most of the bees should be shaken off, for if tliis 

 is rightly done it will lea saving of time. 



