42 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



and crushing bees and perhaps breaking. The bees will have to be 

 closed up at night, or early in the morning before they begin to 

 fly. Over the top of the hive it is often well, if the hive is to go 

 a considerable distance and the weather is warm, to tack a sheet of 

 wire cloth, removing the cover temporarily. It may be even neces- 

 sary in the case of very strong colonies, to take the added precau- 

 tion of giving extra space above the frames in which the bees may 

 cluster. This may be accomplished by placing an empty super 

 above, placing the wire cloth above that. The entrance should also 

 be covered with wire cloth for ventilation. If the hive has a mova- 

 ble bottom it will be necessary to make this secure. For this, crat- 

 ing staples are the most handy, though blocks of wood may be used. 

 These fastenings would be suitable for securing the super where 

 used as described above. 



The hives thus prepared may be shipped by express. If to be 

 removed by wagon, a spring wagon should be used, with straw or 

 hay in the bottom. The hives should be placed with the combs run- 

 ning with the axle as then the force of . the jolts does 

 not strike the comb sideways, but on the edges in such 

 a way that they can stand it better. It is better to move 

 bees at night or early morning, so that they will be as cool as 

 possible. Arriving at the new location of the apiary, the hives may 

 le placed in position on the stands and with a lighted smoker the 

 entrances may be opened. This is done first so that when the top 

 packing is removed, the bees, flying out, will find their way in at the 

 entrance without confusion. It is well, especially if the bees have 

 been moved only a short distance, to slant a board in front of the 

 entrance, so that they, on flying out the next morning, will have their 

 attention called to the change in location and take notice of their 

 new and strange surroundings. Otherwise they are liable to dart 

 off from the hive as usual, and when ready to return home, will 

 naturally go back to the old location and be lost. In a couple of 

 days these boards may be removed and normal conditions restored. 



Should the bees be purchased in the old style box hive, still 

 commonly used among farmers, it might be desirable to transfer 

 them into frame hives. This, however, should never be undertaken 

 late in the fall, as the bees would not have time to recover from th^ 

 disturbed condition of their house before winter. These operations 

 should take place in the spring or early summer. 



