SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 21 



Then with the proper number of hives in readiness, each containing five 

 frames, fill with full sheets of foundation the remaining three, empty, to 

 receive the transferred comb. An ax, long-bladed knife, a ball of cotton 

 wrapping-twine, a burlap sack folded and laid on a box or small table two 

 or three feet square, must be in the apiary in readiness. Also a pail of water* 

 and towel. Put the veil on well. Cord your pants legs and sleeves, then 

 with the smoke in good trim tilt a hive over a little ; send up through the 

 comb a few whifTs of smoke, then remove the hive, setting it on the ground 

 a few feet away; then remove the stand and set the new hive on the ground 

 where the stand was with the three empty frames and division-board and 

 cover removed. Now turn to the old hiye, and again smoke the bees well from 

 the bottom ; ease off the cover from the old hive (which should not be nailed), 

 and dump the bees on it into the new hive wheie the frames were removed, 

 and put the cover on it ; then take hold of the old hive by the top and bottom, 

 and reverse ends with it, jarring one of the top corners against the ground 

 just in front of the new hive, thus dislodging the most of the bees, and they 

 will at once go into the new hive where the others are. 



If there is yet a good number of bees in the old hive, repeat the smok- 

 ing and jarring until there are only a few if any bees left. Then take the 

 old hive away a few steps, lay it down on its side so that the comb will 

 extend upward, and split it open with the ax ; then spread it out each way 

 on the ground. Now you have access to all the comb, and remove the 

 straightest pieces of comb containing brood and may be a little honey, and 

 lay them on the folded sack ; then lay one of the 'empty frames over the 

 best portion of the comb, and cut down around on the inside of it with the 

 knife; then press it into the frame well and give it a few raps from the 

 bottom-bar to the top-bar, with each end of the cord fastened, ^et this frame 

 to one side, and proceed in like manner to fill the two remaining empty 

 frames, using only the best comb; then if you should like any, you will 

 have some comb over from some other hive, and you can finish filling the 

 frame and put it in its place; but as soon as you get the other two frames 

 filled, put them in the hive and keep the cover on. Now wash your hands 

 and dry them, and proceed thus from hive to hive until you have trans- 

 ferred the apiaries. Kill as few bees as you can, for they are very valuable 

 at this critical time. I have found it best to begin on the strong colonies 

 first, and transfer the weaker ones last. Be sure, when you give the frames 

 of transferred comb back to the bees, that they do not touch, and that the 

 bees may have access to all the comb surface, for they dislike very much to 

 have their comb pushed together so they can not pass over it; and often 

 transferred comb will bulge and do this ; and it is best to leave the division- 

 board out until you examine them again in two or thre^ days; then you 

 can better straighten the comb in the frames, for the bees, by this time, 

 will have them well attached to the frame. Also at this time you can insert 

 two frames of foundation ibetween these frames of transferred comb, and the 

 bees will at once draw out the foundation, and the. queens will, occupy them. 



