274 Moving Colonies. 



ing. We now hold the cage in the left hand with the 

 thumb over the hole, to keep the bees in, and with the 

 right hand pick up the queen and eight or ten worker bees 

 — bright ones, neither very young nor old— by grasping 

 the wings with thumb and index finger, and put them into 

 the cage. Close the opening by pushing in the tin slide, 

 nail on the wooden screen (Fig. lOo), and our queen is 

 ready to mail. In this work we can make good use of the 

 comb stand (Fig. loi). 



We should send queens by mail. They go as safely as 

 by express and it costs but a cent or two. No one should 

 ■presume^ on any account, to send a queen by mail, unless 

 the queen cage is covered by this double screen and is ■pro- 

 visioned as directed above, instead of with honey. If ship- 

 pers neglect these precautions, so that the mails become 

 daubed, or the mail agents stung, we shall again lose the 

 privilege of sending queens by mail. 



^ TO MOVE COLONIES. 



Should we desire to purchase Italians or other colonies, 

 the only requisites to safe transport are : A wire-cloth cover 

 for ventilation, securfe fastening of the frames so they can- 

 not possibly move, and combs so old that they shall not 

 break down and fall out. In spring, wire gauze over the 

 entrance usually affords enough ventilation. If the col- 

 ony is very large, and the weather very warm, the entire 

 top of the hive should be open and covered with gauze, or 

 the bees may smother. The entrance ought also to be cov- 

 ered with gauze. Dr. C. C. Miller, in his valuable little 

 book "A Year among the Bees," offers a good suggestion. 

 It is to double a narrow piece of wire gauze, a little longer 

 than the entrance to the hive, and tack the cut edges to 

 one side of a similar shaped piece of soft wood, so that 

 it will project one-half inch below. Bj' screwing or tack- 

 ing this strip just above the entrance of a hive, we quickly 

 shut the bees in. Several of these may be made in ad- 

 vance. I find them very convenient. If combs are built 

 from wired foundation they will not break down even if 

 new. Bees thus shut up should never be left where the 

 sun can shine on them. In the cars the frames should 



