30 



the ' ' Alley ' ' system before the middle of May, but may be trans- 

 ferred at any later time during the summer, subject to the condi- 

 tions stated above. It will be assumed that the stock to be trans- 

 ferred is in a straw skep, and in proper condition for transfer- 

 ring. Prepare a stand for the new hive (69) ; then place the 

 bar-frame hive to which the stock is to be transferred, on the 

 stand as already described (75) ; next place six frames contain- 

 ing wired foundation in the front of the body-box (B. , Fig. 30) ; 

 if a frame of honey can be procured from another hive, place 

 it behind the six frames ; push the dummy close up against 

 these frames, and place the rest of the frames in the hive 

 behind the dummy (A., Fig. 30) ; place a sheet of thin news- 

 paper over the frames, and on this place a sheet of cardboard 

 measuring 18 inches by 16 inches, in which cut a circular hole 

 7 inches in diameter, the centre of the hole being 4J inches 

 from one of the 16-inch wide ends of the cardboard, and 8 inches 

 from each of the other sides ; this will leave a width of one inch 

 of cardboard at the point where the hole comes nearest to one 

 end of the sheet ; any thin substance through which bees can- 

 not penetrate, such as thin wood or tin, may be used instead 

 of cardboard. If a frame of honey is not available for insertion 

 behind the six frames of foundation as already recommended, 

 a hole about the size of a shilling should be cut through one of 

 the front corners of the cardboard and the newspaper under- 

 neath, in order that a small bottle of about half-a-pint capacity 

 may be inverted thereon, for feeding the bees with syrup. Place 

 the cardboard over the newspaper on the frames (Fig. 31), with 

 the large hole over the six front frames marked " B," Fig. 30. 

 Unless the newspaper is very thin, the portion exposed under 

 the hole in the cardboard should now be lightly sprinkled with 

 water to soften it, then cover the hole in the cardboard with 

 excluder zinc. The preparatory work so far described may with 

 advantage be performed at any time prior to the transfer of the 

 stock. Next, drive the queen and most of the bees into an 

 empty skep (82) , leaving in the old skep sufficient bees to nurse 

 the brood. Then place the old skep containing the brood and 

 nurses on the cardboard, so that it shall entirely cover the 

 7-inch hole therein, the rim of the skep resting entirely on the 

 cardboard (Fig. 32), leaving the feeding hole exposed. The 

 hole in the rim of the skep, which served as a door, must be 

 plugged up. Now place the lift on, and if a frame of honey has 

 not been provided in the body-box, fill the small feeding bottle 

 or tin with syrup ; if a bottle is used , tie a piece of coarse muslin 

 over its mouth and invert it over the small hole in the 

 front corner of the cardboard : then carefully pack all 

 round and over the skep with cloths or hay, taking care 

 when doing so not to move the feeder, if used, from its 

 position, and to leave no aperture except the hive entrance 

 by which a bee can escape from either skep or body- 

 box ; then fit on the roof.' The driven bees should then be 

 hived (76). On the third or fourth day after transferring, lift 

 off the skep and examine the frames to see if the queen is lay- 

 ing : if she is laying the newspaper may be removed, but the 



