90 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



The one and one-half story dovetail hives must be prepared, in 

 the usual manner, one for each colony to be transferred. Full sheets 

 of foundation in the brood frames are better, but starters will do. 

 Cut No. 1 shows the box hive in readiness for the modern one, which 

 is done by turning it down on its side or edge, so the comb will be 

 about straight up and down, then with an ax split the top side up 

 in one and two-inch strips. Then remove them one by one carefully, 

 so as not to break up the comb. Set the prepared hives over the 

 greatest cluster of bees, and place a plank over the portion of the 

 old hive the new one does not cover. See cut. 



The bees in the box hive 

 should be well smoked before 

 the hive is turned down, and 

 it should not be moved, just 

 turned down on the old stand. 

 If the old hive has no comb in 

 the top, caused by being robbed 

 last season, it should be filled 

 with straw or shavings and the 

 modern hive set over the part 

 where the comb is, and a 

 board laid over the straw. 

 This will keep the bees from 

 building any more comb in the 

 old hive, and if there is comb 

 and honey in the top of the old 

 hive, the bees will remove it, 

 if the cover is pried ofif the 

 hive just a little along during 

 the season, and by the first of 

 the summer it can be com- 

 pletely removed, leaving both 

 ends of the old hive open. By 

 this time the bees have moved 

 all the honey up into the new 

 hive the queen has established her brood nest there, and the bees 

 have transferred themselves. 



At the close of the season the old hive can be moved, the new 

 one set down on its regular bottom, and the old comb rendered into 

 wax. This plan cures the bees of the swarming fever for the season, 

 and they will store more honey than the newly hived swarms will. 



I must not close without stating that this is a very important 

 time in the bee business, and the bees should have close attention. 

 A super should be placed on all strong colonies, and more should be 

 in readiness. As soon as the bees get started well on a super it 



Bees Transferring Themselves a la Wilder. 



