CHAPTER X. 



TRANSFERRING BEES FROM COMMON BOXES 

 TO FRAME HIVES. 



Were it not that this Manual circulates in parts of 

 Australasia where common boxes are likely to be 

 allowed as hives for some time to come, there would 

 be no need for this chapter, as I feel proud in saying 

 that all domiciles for bees, save frame hives, are illegal 

 in New Zealand; and I look forward to the time, which 

 I hope will not be long, when a similar law will be in 

 force throughout the whole of Australasia. 



Not very long since it was considered an advantage 

 to save all the brood possible by transferring the brood 

 combs as well as the bees, but it having been proved in 

 so many cases to be the means of spreading disease, 

 it has of late been deemed safest to transfer the bees 

 only. I am very strongly in favour of this method, for, 

 as I have proved, where colonies are not very badly 

 affected, putting the bees straight on to full sheets of 

 comb foundations will in most cases effect a cure ; 

 whereas if but slightly diseased combs are transferred, 

 it means the maintenance of disease, and the great risk 

 of spreading it. My plan of late years has been to drum 

 the bees out of the boxes, put them on to starters, then 

 in four days put them on to full sheets of comb found- 

 ation ; in fact, treated them on the McEvoy plan, with 

 successful results on every occasion. The old combs 

 have either been burned or melted into wax. 



DRIVING BEES FROM COMMON BOXES. 



The best time to transfer is on any fine day after the 

 honey season has set in, with warm settled weather, 

 and a fair flow of honev on. The frame hive should be 



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