THE APIARY. 83 



Probably the best mode of conveyance is in a wagon 

 with elliptic springs. A wagon without springs is bad, es- 

 pecially for young stocks ; yet I have known them to be 

 moved safely in this way, with care in packing hay or 

 straw under and around them, and careful driving. 



Whatever conveyance is employed, the hive should be 

 inverted. The combs will then rest on the top, and are 

 less liable to break than when right end up, because in 

 the latter case, the whole weight of the combs must come 

 upon the fastenings at the top and sides, and these are 

 easily broken. When bees are moved, thus inverted, they 

 will creep upward ; in stocks partly full, they will often 

 nearly all leave the combs, and get upon the covering. 



For several years, we have purchased bees largely, 

 bringing them sometimes a distance of 150 miles by rail, 

 when the weather was quite warm. At such times, we 

 used wire-cloth to confine the bees, which was enough 

 larger than the bottom of the hive, to be rounded up, so 

 that the bees could go above the combs, and have a freer 

 circulation of air. 



If they are to be shut up any length of time, it is often 

 beneficial to furnish them with water, by sprinkling it 

 through the wire-cloth. They will receive it very greedily. 

 Half a gin may be given each swarm two or three times 

 each day. Or a piece of sponge may be fastened to the 

 wire-cloth, and kept saturated, allowing the bees to take 

 as much as they desire. Much care is necessary in mov- 

 ing' heavy colonies in warm weather. 



In packing hives into a wagon, place them so that the 

 combs will stand cross-wise of the wagon-box, as they 

 are less liable to break in this position. In a railroad 

 car, they should stand so that the combs will be length- 

 wise with the car. 



In preparing colonies for transportation, it is frequently 

 necessary to work at them during the day, while the bees 

 are flying- AH holes in the too of the hive should be 



