122 TRANSFERRING BEES. 



to prevent robbing, and also to have the comb frames 

 all filled w^ith combs, and in good position for the 

 bees to winter. As cold weather is so close at 

 hand, the bees will have but little time to arrange 

 for winter. 



In transferring, construct the Controllable Hive 

 as directed, with exception of the comb frames, 

 from which leave ofl' the triangular piece, as the 

 comb can be better fitted to a flat surface. Make 

 several holes one-fourth inch in diameter through 

 the top, bottom and ends of frames, and a like num- 

 ber of sharp wooden pins about two inches long to 

 fit these holes. 



Early in the morning, before the bees begin to 

 fly, prepare your smoker, go to the hive you pro- 

 pose to transfer, and before you touch it, smoke the 

 bees at the entrances moderately, giving them two 

 or three puffs, waiting about a minnte and giving 

 them two or three more. Then stop the entrances, 

 so no bees can escape. Take the hive from the 

 stand and carry it to some out-building, so the bees 

 from the other hives will not trouble you, and get a 

 taste of the honey, thereby inciting them to robbery. 

 Turn the hive bottom up, and with two sticks each 

 about a half-inch in diameter and twelve inches 

 long, strike the hive lightly half a dozen times, and 

 then wait for two or three minutes. Then with the 

 sticks on each side of the hive drum briskly (but 

 lightly so not to break the comb,) for about five 

 minutes. Then pufli"smoke under the bottom board 

 on all sides. Much of this preliminary work is for 

 the purpose of confusing the bees, and inducing 



