130 ONE YEAR AMONG THE BEES. 



FIG. 23. Opening hives and handling bees. 



handle them carefully. First, open the hive, without jarring it, if 

 possible. If the lid is glued fast and it never will be if you keep a 

 good, sound cloth under the lid and over all of the frames and top of 

 the hive but if it is, pry it up as easily as .possible. After removing 

 the lid, take one corner of quilt and draw it up ; and, by the way, al- 

 ways take it up first at the side of hive farthest from you and draw it 

 toward you, as seen in the illustration. Now, it is supposed you have 

 your smoker in readiness, providing you need it, and if the bees come 

 running up and boiling out between the frames on top, take your 

 smoker and give them a few light puffs of smoke and send them back 

 down again. If they seem to stay down pretty well you may go on 

 with your work, but if they come back up as before, drive them down 

 again with the smoke with a little more positiveness. Usually, by 

 this time, you are master of the situation, and you may remove the 

 quilt entirely and take out the frames, or any frame you desire. The 

 frames are usually fastened with bee-glue, and when the weather is a 

 little cool you will need something to pry the frames loose and, for 

 this purpose, a screw-driver will answer nicely. When taking out 

 the first frame, spread the frames on both sides of the one you wish 

 to take out so that the frame will lift up clear, and not rub or be 

 squeezed with the frames beside it, thus killing bees on removing it. 

 Draw the frame up slowly and replace it in the same manner. 



