THE APIART. 81 



transferred. This operation may be more readily per- 

 formed, and they may be transported with less liability 

 of breaking the combs, and thereby injuring the bees, 

 than if the combs are more new and tender. If such 

 colonies have cast swarms the previous year, which is 

 usually the case, they will contain a young queen; be- 

 sides, stocks of this age are very apt to be more popu- 

 lous than younger ones. 



If good swarms of the previous season can be found 

 in movable comb hives, and are not to be moved a 

 long distance, there will, of course, be no objection to 

 selecting such. Choose hives with straight combs and 

 such as have the most worker comb. The item of the 

 utmost importance at this period is, that they shall be 

 very populous ; this is almost positive proof that most 

 of the other desirable conditions are present. 



Since the marked diminution of foul brood in this 

 country, the precautions to avoid introducing it, need 

 not be so rigidly observed as was insisied upon in the 

 earlier editions of this work. 



COST OB BEES AKD FIXTURES. 



. The cost of a colony of bees will of course vary in 

 different localities. In New York, the price of a good 

 swarm of native bees in a box hive, has been about $5.00, 

 at any. season of the year. More recently, good swarms 

 have been sold .for $400. in the fall,, and $5.00 in the 

 spring. This has seemed a fair price when honey realiz- 

 ed the.better prices that it. did. a few. years ago ; but.with 

 the present reduction in the price of honey, I anticipate 

 a corresponding decrease in the cost of bees; 



Those buying from dealers, where the bees are already 

 in movable frame hives, with straight worker combs, in 

 proper condition, will probably pay 18.00 each, for natives 

 and $10.00 for Italians. Empty hives 'will cost from $1:00- 



