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THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



em Massachusetts, I transferred a colony which wintered in 

 good health, and which now. May, 1853, promises to make 

 an excellent stock. The day was warm, but after the opera- 

 tion was completed, the weather suddenly became cold, and 

 as the bees were not able to leave the hive in order to ob- 

 tain the water necessary for repairing their comb, they were 

 supplied with that indispensable article. They went to work 

 very busily, and in a. short time mended* up their combs and 

 attached them firmly to the frames. 



The transfer may be made of any healthy colony, and if 

 they are strong in numbers, and the hive is well provisioned, 

 and the weather is not too cool when the operation is at- 

 tempted, they will scarcely feel the change. If the weath- 

 er should be too chilly, it will be found almost impossible to 

 make a colony leave its old hive, and if the combs are cut 

 out, and the bees removed upon them, large numbers of 

 them will take wing, and becoming chilled, will be unable to 

 join their companions, and so will perish. 



The process of transferring bees to my hives, is performed 

 as follows. Let the old hive be shut up and well drummed* 

 and the bees, if possible, be driven into an upper box. If 

 they will not leave the hive of their own accord, they 

 will fill themselves, and when it is ascertained that they are 

 determined, if they can help it, not to be tenants at will, 

 the upper box must be removed, and the bees genlly sprink- 

 led, so that they may all be sure to have nothing done to 

 them on an empty stomach. If possible, an end of the old 

 box parallel with the combs, must be pried off, so that they 

 may be easily cut out. An old hive or box should stand 

 upon a sheet, in place of the removed stock, and as fast 

 as a comb is cut out, the bees should be shaken from it, 



* Instead of using sticks, I much prefer to make the drumming 

 with the open palms of my hands. 



