ESTABLISHING AN APIABY, AND LIGUEIANIZING. 



77 



when the rod is held in a perpendicular position. The first knife having 

 performed its work, the second is brought into play ; having slipped it 

 down by the side of the comb, it is turned so as to bring its blade into 

 position for cutting the comb from the hive roof. This accompliahed, 

 carefully lift the comb and place it upon a board, greater in length and 

 breadth than the frames which we are to transfer. This board will be 

 less likely to damage the delicate edges of the cells or the covers of the 

 pupaa if it has tacked upon it two or three thicknesses of woollen cloth. 

 Place the frame over the comb, and with a sharp dinner knife mark the 

 size of the former upon the latter, so that when trimmed it will fit as 

 accurately as its size and shape will admit of, taking care that the top of 

 the comb, as built in the old hive, shall also be the top as you fix it, for 

 the cells are made to incline somewhat upwards. Keep the comb against 

 one side of the frame, in order that a firm attachment may the more 

 quickly be made ; and fit in any good pieces of worker comb that may 

 aid in filling out the frames. Thickened combs should be shaved down 



Fig. 60. Cheshire Teahsfekkiho Board. 



while drone cells should be wholly rejected, or placed only in the upper 

 part of the outside frames. Should the comb not be deep enough to fit 

 down to the bottom of the frame, it is necessary to put against its lower 

 edge a strip of thin wood, about Jin. wide, when two or three tapes, 

 that ought to have been laid on the board before putting the comb 

 down, are passed around the frame and comb, or comb and lath, as the 

 case may be, and securely tied. The board is now raised to the perpen- 

 dicular, with the comb and frame upon it, when the latter is lifted by the 

 ears and placed in the hive. Whilst treating the combs thus seriatim, it 

 is highly important to keep the brood together, and if their previous 

 relative positions be preserved better fitting will be secured. 



Our prize transferring board, which we used while operating at the 

 Crystal Palace, will be found to much facilitate the process. The 

 operator places the apparatus upon a table standing opposite its face 

 A, B, (Fig. 50). 



