58 



IRE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



TRANSFERRING. 



As we have received numerous 

 questions in reference to transferring, 

 we will give the method we use, in as 

 small a space as possible. In trans- 

 ferring from old box hives into mov- 

 able frames the very first thing to do 

 is to have all tools and implements 

 used in the operation at hand ready 

 for use. The necessary tools consist 

 of a hammer, good stout chisel for 

 prying off side of hive and cutting, 

 long-bladed sharp knife for cutting 

 out the comb.-, and a long hook made 

 like a common stove-poker, with bent 

 end sharpened; this is for loosening 

 the combs when the side of box is not 

 taken off. Also smoker. The very 

 best time for the operation of trans- 

 ferring bees is as soon as the fruit 

 trees begin to bloom, and from that 

 time until swarming. I say when the 

 fruit trees are in bloom, because I 

 mean that the beginner can safely 

 take hold of the job at that time and 

 run no chances of his operations be- 

 ing a failure. Again, when they are 

 gathering honey very rapidly they 

 will repair the comb very quickly and 

 be more prosperous than before. 

 They may, of course, be transferred 

 before this, or in fact any time, but as 

 I said before this, the month of May 

 is the best time. After quieting the 

 stock to be transferred, by the use of 

 your smoker, invert it and keep the 

 bees down, then set a box up side 

 down over the inverted hive, and be 

 careful that no bees can get out 



around the box ; then get two sticks 

 and set down by your hive and drum 

 on each side of it until the bees have 

 ascended into the inverted box, now 

 remove the box and tack a piece of 

 wire-cloth over it and set it aside 

 until you are ready for the bees. 

 Now move the old hive anywhere you 

 intend to do the work of transferring, 

 but I would advise a sheltered place, 

 for if you have other stocks around 

 look out for robbers. Now drive out 

 the cross sticks, which you will find 

 about midway from top to bottom of 

 box hive, and sever the attachments 

 of comb on side of hive, which can be 

 most easily removed. > Pry off the 

 side of your hive with your chisel, 

 cutting the nails if necessary, and you 

 are now ready to carve. Have your 

 table, that you are to work on, near 

 by, on which is a cushion of cotton- 

 batting covered with cloth, about four 

 inches thick. On this lay your comb, 

 after brushing off any bees which 

 might be on it; on this comb lay your 

 frame. Mark inside the fiame and 

 cut the comb to fit the frame snug (it 

 would be best to cut the comb a little 

 larger and spring frame over it), take 

 all the little pieces and fit them in the 

 frames when necessary. I would not 

 advise you to transfer any drone 

 comb. Possibly you will find some 

 combs too thick, in fact so much so 

 that they will not allow the frames to 

 fit close together ; if so, shave them 

 off. When the frame is full of comb, 

 take strips of wcod one-quarter of an 

 inch thick and about one-half inch 

 wide, these strips to extend a trifle be- 

 low and above bottom and top bar of 

 frames ; place these one (or as many as 

 necessary) on each side of frames ; 

 over these extended ends snap a small 



