PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 37 



first removed from the hive, with one hand at each end, the frame 

 suspended vertically. In this position, which may be designated for 

 convenience as number one, the near side of the comb can be ob- 

 served. Raise the left hand until the frame is brought to a verti- 

 cal position in the long way and take position two. Then whirl 

 the frame around to the right until the far side is brought into view, 

 keeping the combs vertical the whole time, and position number 

 three is assumed. Then lower the left hand until the frame is again 

 in its normal position, only inverted, and we have the opposite 

 side before us. This is number four. In returning the frame 

 positions are gone through in the reverse sequence. It will be <g 

 served that the comb is kept vertical the whole time. The adva^ 

 tage of this is obvious. Freshly gathered honey is kept from drip- 

 ping and newly built combs are kept from dropping out, as is likely 

 to take place if the comb is allowed to come into a horizontal 

 position. 



If one is desirous of locating the queen it is obvious that the 

 bees should be as little excited as possible. If the proper care be 

 taken to secure these conditions a queen may be often found so un- 

 disturbed as to be quietly moving about the comb depositing eggs. 

 The queen will be, under normal conditions, toward the center of the 

 brood nest. She will not be found, as a rule, on frames of sealed 

 brood or even on combs filled with larvae of an advanced stage, 

 so that these may be passed by quickly. In general, it is best to take 

 a quick look through a hive before spending, much time looking 

 each comb over systematically. When one is removing combs, as 

 they are drawn out, sometimes a little excitement will be noticed on 

 the comb in hand or the adjoining comb, signifying that the queen 

 has been disturbed. It is upon combs containing eggs that the 

 queen is most likely to be found. If the queen is a very old one, 

 she will be sometimes found hovering about on the drone comb 

 \vhere her instinct leads her to deposit drone eggs, in view of the 

 coming young queens. If she happens to be a young, unmated or 

 virgin queen, it is almost useless to hunt for her because of her ac- 

 tivity and similarity to the workers, in fact one has no clue as to her 

 whereabouts since she is depositing no eggs. 



In the course of opening colonies of bees and working with them 

 it is often of advantage to change combs about, remove some, insert- 

 ing others or sheets of foundation prepared ready for reception by 



