25 



also ; then with a feather smear the frame shoulders with car- 

 bolic solution ; this tends to prevent the bees running out on 

 the shoulders of the frame while it is held by the operator. 



Having inserted the carbolic feather, prepare, and apply the 

 subduing-cloth (43). First, damp it with 



65. Use of Carbolic carbolic solution (180), insert the stick, 

 or Subduing-cloth. and then while holding the stick in one 



hand, with the other take hold of the 

 side edge of the quilt and gently peel it off, drawing 

 it sideways across the frames, and ,as the upturned quilt 

 is drawn off exposing the top bars of the frames, draw 

 the carbolic cloth after it, holding the stick horizontally bo that 

 the cloth shall lie on the frames (Fig. 20). Then lay the quilt 

 on the ground underside up, in front of and partly lying on the 

 alighting-board, so that the bees adhering to it may pass into 

 the hive. If it is desired to examine the back frames only, 

 the quilt should be peeled off from back to front aa far as neces- 

 sary, drawing the carbolic cloth over the frames as the quilt 

 is removed. If after a little time the bees show a continued 

 inclination to surge up to the top of the frames, the feather 

 (64) may be withdrawn from the entrance. The carbolic 

 cloth should be allowed to rest on the frames for two or three 

 minutes, after which it may be partially or entirely removed 

 as may be necessary, always keeping it at hand for use if 

 required. If it is necessary to lift the dummy (25), another 

 carbolic cloth should be allowed to hang behind the last frame ; 

 this will drive the bees to the front, so that the rear of the body- 

 box (21) will be clear of bees when it is necessary to replace 

 the dummy. If, notwithstanding the above-mentioned treat- 

 ment, the bees become so unmanageable as to render manipu- 

 lation difficult, it may be advisable to replace the coverings and 

 postpone operations, taking care to withdraw the carbolic cloth 

 and feather ; or the smoker (66) may be used. It is to be under- 

 stood that several substances may be used in lieu of carbolic solu- 

 tion for subduing as above described (48). To replace the quilt, 

 spread the carbolic cloth over the frames ; then spread the quilt 

 flat on the carbolic cloth ; next, while holding one side of the 

 quilt with one hand to retain it in its proper position, withdraw 

 the carbolic cloth with the other, leaving the quilt on the 

 frames. If, as may often occur when food is scarce, the hive 

 does not contain stores of unsealed food with which the bees 

 can gorge themselves, some syrup should be poured over the 

 bar-frames so that it may trickle down the combs ; the bees 

 will then readily gorge themselves with it ; about two table- 

 spoonfuls of syrup is sufficient for a strong stock. A good 

 method of giving syrup for quieting, is to spread a piece of 

 butter muslin across the top bars, and to pour the syrup upon it. 



Although the use of the smoker is not recommended in ordinary 

 practice, its method of use will be ex- 



66, Subduing with plained, as it may be convenient to use it 



Smoker. in the absence of a carbolic or other sub- 



duer, or if the operator fails to subdue the 



bees with the subduing-cloth and feather. Having charged 



