AFTER-MANAGEMENT. 271 



AFTER-MANAGEMENT. 



The hive containing the colony is then to be closed 

 up, and with the ventilators open, set in a cool place 

 as above directed. As soon as it is dark it should 

 be set on the stand, and the apertures opened for the 

 working of the bees. Do not open the door or re- 

 move the frames for the first six days, for if done, 

 many of the bees will take wing and return to the 

 parent hive. By this time the queen and most of 

 the brood have emerged from the cells. The hive is 

 then to be opened and all the bees are to be shaken 

 or brushed from the two brood combs, which are now 

 nearly empty. If many bees are found, proceed as 

 follows : open any strong hive and choose two or three 

 combs (according to the strength of the colony they 

 are to be placed in) having eggs and young brood. 

 All the bees are to be gently brushed from the combs 

 with a wing or quill. Then after one comb contain- 

 ing ample stores is placed in one side of the hive con- 

 taining the colony, the former are to be placed ad- 

 joining with two empty frames added, and the whole 

 covered with a cloth and the hive closed, except the 

 apertures for egress and ingress. 



The two combs taken from the colony are put in 

 the hive in exchange for the brood combs removed.* 



*The objects of interchanging combs are 1st, to strengthen the 

 colony. 2d. If the embryo queen supplied has failed to emerge, 

 or is afterwards lost, it gives the bees the means of rearing another. 

 3d. The combs which would otherwise remain empty for a period 

 of ten days, are immediately replenished with eggs, making a dif- 



