REMOVAL OF STOCKS. 183 



a humane one, simply by cutting out with a sharp-pointed 

 knife the middle of the top of the hive ; a piece may 

 thus easily be taken out, so as to leave a round hole two 

 or three inches in diameter, but care must be taken that 

 the knife does not penetrate much below the straw,* lest it 

 reach the comb or the bees — and it will be safer for the 

 operator to have a bee-dress on. There should be ready 

 a round adapting-board, with a corresponding hole, 

 which may be secured on the top by putting four long 

 nails through the same number of holes in the board ; 

 then a cap-hive or a glass may be placed on the top, for 

 the purpose of admitting the bees, who will soon crowd 

 therein to work. 



This hive or glass will form a super or depriving-hive, 

 and can be worked as profitably as most of the improved 

 hives. For the sake of an improved appearance, an 

 outside case, either of zinc, straw, or wood, may be 

 dropped over all, and then, if well painted, the whole 

 will form no disfig^lrement to any flower-garden. 



This is, beyond doubt, the easiest way of overcoming 

 the difficulty, but as it may not satisfy all, we now proceed 

 to describe how a complete transfer may be made. No 

 hive offers such facilities for the correct placing of the 

 combs in a perfectly upright position as does the bar- 

 and-frame hive. As before remarked, we should be slow 

 to recommend any one to attempt the operation who is 

 not already pretty well accustomed to the handling of 

 bees and acquainted with their habits ; but by care- 



