MANIPtTLATlNG. 107 



Hold the frame by the shoulders (Fig-. 80, i) : raise your left 

 hand, bringing- the frame into the position shown (2) : g-ive 

 the frame a half turn, like a swinging door, bringing the off 

 side next yourself (3) : then lower the left hand into the position 

 shown (4). Reverse these movements to bring the frame back 

 to position i. Fig. 80. If the queen is not upon it, you may 

 now hang it on the comb stand (172) and proceed to examine 

 the other combs. In all these operations, act with delibera- 

 tion ; move your hands slowly ; avoid pinching bees with your 

 fingers or crushing them in the hive; and do not jar the frames 

 when putting them back, nor kick the hive legs with your feet. 

 If the bees show signs of getting from under control, draw 

 the carbolic cloth over the frames again, or blow a puff of 

 smoke along the frame tops. When you have finished your 

 inspection, replace the frames, shoulder to shoulder; draw up 

 the dummy ; put on the sheet and quilts and roof ; and, if the 

 bees have not already thrown it out of the entrance, remove 

 the carbolised feather. 



185b. Searching for the Queen. — In the fascinating game of 

 hide and seek with the queen (182), there are yet other rules to 

 be observed. For example, a comb on which the queen may 

 be, when lifted out for inspection, should be held over the hive, 

 so that in the event of her falling off she may drop safely into 

 her home. Combs containing brood should not be hung upon 

 the comb stand (172) for any length of time in chilly weather 

 lest the brood be injured (338). Combs containing much 

 unsealed honey should not have their adhering bees removed 

 by jerking or thumping (184), for this would throw out the 

 honey and do damage to the bees (36). Stand with your back 

 to the sun, and as each frame is withdrawn scan the exposed 

 faces of the combs in the hive, for her majesty may be scam- 

 pering there towards the darker side. Part any cluster of bees 

 on the frame in your hands, the queen may be hidden there. 

 If still she baffles you, and if it be necessary to find her there 

 and then, either of the following methods may be tried ; — 

 Place a hiving board in position (233), a piece of excluder zinc 

 (109) on the hive entrance, and a dummy (93) inside near the 

 hive front. Lift out the frames one by one and thump, or 

 brush, every bee on to the hiving board, moving back the 

 dummy and returning the frames in front of it as they are 

 cleared ; when the excluder stops the queen entering you will 

 have her. Or, procure a super box (108) or any bottomless 

 box about the size of the hive, invert it, and brush every bee 

 into it from frames, hive, and floorboard; set up the hive 

 again with the frames in position ; place an excluder on the 

 box, set the latter on the frames, with the excluder between, 

 thump on the lid to throw the bees down, then raise the 

 lid and spread a carbolic cloth (127) over the box ; the bees will 

 quickly run down to the frames, except the queen and drones, 

 which will be trapped above the excluder. 



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