138 



THE PHACTIOAL BEE GUIDE. 



instead of tapes, and by this means small pieces of comb can 

 be held in position until fastened by the bees. The combs 

 should always hang in the new hive top up, as they were in 

 the skep. The method illustrated here (Fig. 84b) may be 

 made to serve the purpose ; several pieces of comb may be 

 held in position in a frame until joined by the bees, or pieces 

 of foundation may be inserted (as in the illustration) either to 

 fill a frame or to substitute worker for drone comb. The laths 

 have ordinary pins driven through them ; these hold the pieces 

 of comb, or foundation, and the pins at the ends are driven into 

 the top bar and bottom bar of the frame. 



Fig, 84b. 

 KEPAIKED COMB. 



254. Automatic Transfer from Skep, or Box, to Modern Hive. 



— Stimulate the stock (192, 313, 318) with the object of having 

 the skep crowded with bees in April, or early in May. When 

 this is attained, prepare a modern hive, as directed (232), 

 cutting a central hole of 6" or 8" diameter in the sheet. This 

 hive must now be placed in the position occuijied by the skep, 

 and the skep must be set upon the sheet, over the frames. 

 Put on the lift (87), in the summer position (Fig. 116, p. 207), 

 and pack warmly round the skep so that no bees can get out 

 except through the entrance of the lower hive : put on the roof 

 and open the doors. The bees will now leave the hive and 

 return through the regular entrance, passing up and down the 

 frames as they come and go ; and as they increase in numbers 

 they will occupy the frames. About ten days after the opera- 

 tion described above, weather permitting, an examination 

 should be made. When brood is found in more than one 



