290 TRANSFERRING. 



stores collected before the flowers fail ; hence, starva- 

 tion and a total loss are sure to follow. 



A hive suited to the purpose of transferring- bees 

 has been the desideratum heretofore wanting. This 

 want is fully supplied in the California hive. 



By means of the adjustable comb frame, the cen- 

 ter bar of which is movable up or down, combs or 

 parts of combs of any desired size, together with 

 their contents, consisting of brood and stores, can be 

 fitted in and firmly held in the frames by means of 

 the metallic clamps. These clamps are easily pre- 

 pared and applied, and are not offensive to the bees. 

 As they are smooth and only grasp the comb by the 

 edge, they cause but a slight loss of the young 

 brood, as compared with the plan of " tying the 

 comb in the frame with twine or tape." As the 

 material used in tying must necessarily pass over the 

 surface of the brood, the bees will cut out and re- 

 move all the young under it, causing a considerable 

 loss. Nothing is more annoying to them than such 

 appendages, which in many instances are the cause 

 of their deserting the hive. When they remain, 

 they cut out and remove the wrapping with great 

 labor and difficulty ; this the humane bee keeper will 

 avoid, at least as a matter of economy. 



It is a positive rule that bees should be transferred 

 only when there is good pasturage, that will last at 

 least one month afterwards. All the suitable comb 

 jind stores are to be given to them as hereafter di- 

 rected. 



