BEEKEEPING. 865 



is good), a board a few inches larger each way than the frame to be used, with 

 one side covered with one or more thicknesses of flannel, a wing or a small 

 brush broom, a small box without a top, a dish of water and a towel. In addi- 

 tion to these, something will be needed to hold the combs in place when fitted 

 in the frames. The best things for this purpose can readily be made. Get 

 some wire, about No. 14 is best, cut into pieces 11 1^ inches long for the Lang, 

 stroth frame. At J^ inch from one end bend to a right angle, at J^ of an inch 

 T'rom this angle bend the same way as the first to a right angle. At Q% inches 

 'rom this second angle bend the same way to a right angle. The first two bends 

 ibrm a hook that is to be placed over the top bar of the frame, and the last bend 

 makes an end that is to be pushed under the bottom of the frame after it is filled 

 with comb. Prepare 6 or more ior each frame that is to be filled. 



If the bees are at all disposed to rob, place what is to be used in some 

 building or room where the bees can not enter. Now go to the hive to be trans- 

 ferred from and blow a little smoke in at the entrance. The object in smoking 

 the bees is to frighten them, when they will fill themselves with honey, which 

 puts them in the same-condition a cross, hungry person is after a good dinner — 

 good natured. It is said that a bee full of honey will not sting unless pinched 

 in some way. Then move the hive to one side and set the new one without the 

 frames in its place, and carry the old hive, bees and all, to where you have placed 

 the things you are to use in transferring, and turn it bottom side up if it is a box 

 hive. Place one edge of the small box, before spoken of, on one edge of the 

 now turned-over hive. Either prop or hold up the opposite edge of the box and 

 drum lightly on the hive with the hammer or a small stick, and you will soon 

 see the bees going up into the box. In this way drive out »n the bees that 

 •mil readily leave, keeping them subdued with smoke. When all or nearly all 

 the bees are in the box, empty them out on the ground or sawdust in front of 

 the new hive. Now run the saw down one or two sides of the hive on the 

 inside, cutting the combs and cross sticks loose from the sides, choosing the 

 sides from which the flat sides of the comb can be most readily got at. Then, 

 with the chisel, cut off the nails and remove the two sides of the hive. Remove 

 one or more of the combs, or as much as will fill one of the frames and lay on 

 the cloth that has been fastened to the board as already directed. The cloth 

 prevents injuring the sealed brood as the uncovered board would do. Place 

 one of the frames on this comb in such a way as to save as much of the brood 

 as possible, and with a sharp, thin knife cut the comb to the size of the inside 

 of the frame so it will fit snugly. Put on as many of the previously prepared 

 wires as may be needed for the upper side. Then raise the board, comb and 

 frame up edgewise, and turn the frame and its contents and lay the wire side 

 down on the cloth and put wires on the now upper side, and it is ready to place 

 in the new hive where the bees are. Proceed in the same manner till all the 

 worker comb has been transferred, rejecting all drone comb, if there are othei 

 bees within two or three miles, and let your less careful neighbors raise the 

 drones. Brush the remaining bees, if any, down in front of the new hiva 

 The honey from the remaining pieces of comb can be extracted or fed bad( 

 to tUe bees and the comb made into vii&. 



