THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



59 



rubber band ; the frame is now ready 

 to set in the hive, which should be on 

 the old stand. I say use rubber bands, 

 because in a few days these sticks may 

 be removed, and all that is necessary is 

 to open the hive, pull band off of top 

 of sticks and gently pull the stick, and 

 the band at bottom snaps off, so that it 

 is not necessary to remove the frame, 

 as it is when cord is used. The new 

 hive should be kept well covered, so as 

 to exclude other bees. Be sure and 

 get all combs containing eggs or brood 

 in the center of the hive, with combs 

 containing honey outside ; now bring 

 the box containing the bees to the hive, 

 spread a sheet on the ground at the en- 

 trance, on which shake the bees and 

 brush them very gently with one of 

 our bee-brushes, until they have all en- 

 tered the hive. Now place the cap on 

 hive, shade the entrance from the sun, 

 and your job is done. Here is a very 

 simple way to get the bees from an old 

 box hive into a movable hive, which I 

 have advised timid persons to do, and 

 they have met with the best of success. 

 Take your movable frame hive and fill 

 the frames with worker foundation ; 

 remove the cap and set the hive on 

 stand occupied by the old hive, then 

 raise the old hive and place it on top of 

 brood frames of new hive containing 

 foundation, then close up any space 

 around the hive so the only way to get 

 out and in is over the frames contain- 

 ing foundation. It will not be very 

 long before the bees pull this founda- 

 tion out and the queen will come down 

 and go to laying eggs, and in this 

 way they will gradually vacate the up- 

 per hive and take up their residence 

 below, and you can then cut your 

 combs and transfer at will. I do not 

 advise this way of doing, but simply 



give it for those who are either too 

 timid or do not want to go to the 

 trouble of transferring as given above. 

 — Exchange. (N. Y.) 



HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 



April is the month in which bees 

 need the most care. Although there 

 are few sections in which honey is 

 gathered, except in the far South, 

 though bees are active, bringing pol- 

 len and raising young bees. In any 

 locality the queen should now be lay- 

 ing rapidly, and if the beginner has 

 followed out the instructionsjgiven last 

 month, there is no question but that 

 she is laying, and has been for some 

 time. During this month bees con- 

 sume large quantities of honey in rear- 

 ing brood, and here is a very impor- 

 tant point; for should the stores be 

 scant, but few bees will be raised, and 

 perhaps the abundant brood in the 

 cells will be destroyed. Bees often 

 starve at this season of the year 

 because the feed is consumed very 

 quickly, and if all stocks have not an 

 abundance of food, it should be sup- 

 plied at once. Now a few words in 

 reference to room for the queen : 

 Every six or eight days spread the 

 combs in the hive, and insert either an 

 empty comb or a frame containing 

 foundation . This, understand, is when 

 your bees are doing Avell, and be very 

 careful not to spread too much, lest 

 the space is more than the bees can 

 cover, and then all your work would 

 be undone. If you have some combs 

 on hand containing sealed honey, un- 

 cap them and insert in center of hive. 

 The bees will use and remove the 

 honey very quickly, and the comb will 

 be used by the qneen for eggs. I would 

 not advise the beginner, or in fact any 



