42 ALEXANDER’S WRITINGS ON PRACTICAL BEE CULTURE 
how that method could be applied to colonies kept in a close house- 
apiary. Yesterday I received a letter from a friend, wishing some more 
light on this subject from me, for those who are keeping their bees, 
like himself, in close buildings. I can see no reason why this method 
would not be practical when applied to house-apiaries. All that will be 
necessary is to make a temporary stand for the new swarm as Near as 
possible to the parent colony on the outside of the building, only have 
the new swarm face in the opposite direction, so that they will realize 
they have a new location. Then in four days remove all queen-cells from 
the parent colony and mix up the bees of the new swarm with those 
of the old colony as best you can, using some smoke so as to demoralize 
them as they are again united into one large colony. Then remove 
the temporary stand that the new swarm occupied, and the bees will 
soon locate anew in their old home. 
I do hope every bee-keeper in the land, who does not care for in- 
crease, will give this method of treating undesirable swarms a thorough 
trial another season. With us it is the easiest way we have ever tried 
to keep down increase, and at the same time have all colonies strong in 
bees and maturing brood to make them still stronger in their working 
force; and certainly they will work with more perseverance, and give 
us more surplus, than when kept from swarming by removing queen- 
cells, which puts them in a sulking condition, wasting much of their 
time through our best harvests, which we should always try to avoid. 
April, 1907. 
TRANSFERRING BEES. 
WHY IT IS BEST TO PLACE THE OLD HIVE BELOW THE NEW ONE. 
Some have asked, referring to transferring, why I prefer putting 
the undesirable hive under the one I wish to keep the bees in, instead 
of on top, I will say I have always found them more inclined to com- 
mence work above their brood where the temperature is warmer and 
more even than under the excluder or near the entrance. I should have 
mentioned that it would be much better to place a frame of brood in 
the new hive, then the bees would go up, and the queen continue to lay. 
She will seldom commence laying in dry combs for several days, either 
above or below the excluder, unless the colony is strong and honey is 
coming in fast. One of the principal reasons for putting the old hive 
under is that, at the end of three weeks, it will contain but little honey, 
.and its combs will be about ready for wax; whereas if the old hive is 
placed on top, then we have but little honey in the new hive, and the 
old one is full of honey in an undesirable condition. This is especially 
‘so if we use foundation instead of empty combs. It is for these reasons 
that I prefer putting the old hive under the new one. 
In one case the new colony at the end of three weeks will be all 
that could be desired. In the other case the new colony would be light 
