FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEKS ''.r. 



Ol'ENlNi; IllVK. 



A single pull' at llie entrance if the smoker is going well, 

 or two or three puffs if it is yet scarcely under headway, notifies 

 the g-uards that they needn't bother to come out if they feel a 

 little jar. The cover is cracked open the least bit at one corner 

 by the tool, then the other corner is cracked open and the cover 

 lifted. It could be lifted without using the tool twice, simply 

 prying up one corner enough, but that would jar the bees more, 

 and excite them. The desire is to get along with the smallest 

 amount of jar possible, for the queen is to be found, and too 

 much smoke or jarring will set the ))pes to running so the queen 

 cannot be found. As soon as tl-.e cover is raised, a little smoke 

 is blown across the tops of the frames, not down into the hive. 

 While it is bad to use too much smoke, it is also bad to use too 

 little, for if the bees are once thoroughly aroused it takes more 

 smoke to subdue them than it does to keep them under in the 

 first place. 



TAKING OUT FRAMES. 



When the cover is I'emoved the dummy is taken out. If the 

 dummy was on the near side, the frames are all crowded to that 

 side, allowing me to lift out the further frame. Whether that 

 further frame is now to be put into the empty hive depends 

 upon circumstances. It is to be put in if the next frame con- 

 tains brood; otherwise not. For I want the brood-nest to b;'^in 

 with the frame next to the further outside frame, at least that is 

 generally the way. Then I can tell at any time afterward how 

 many frames of brood are in a hive, merely by finding where 

 the brood begins on the side next me. One after another the 

 frames are changed into the empty hive, making sure that at 

 least those containing brood maintain their original relative 

 positions. 



When the old hive is empty, then it is set off- the stand and 

 the other takes its place. The order of proceeding may be 

 changed by first setting the full hive off the stand and putting 

 the empty one in its place. Oi' the change may be made when 

 half the frames have changed (lieir jjlaees. The last makes the 

 lifting a little lighter, but takes more time. 



