PKBLIMINAEY WOEK 41 



of paper or other material is spread at the hive-front. 

 The contents of the package are now dumped out on to 

 the paper and the bees quickly enter the prepared hive. 



If it is possible to catch the queen whilst the bees 

 are marching in, it is a good opportunity to cut the royal 

 mother's wings. If a honey flow is on, the bees in a 

 short while will draw out the foundation into beautiful 

 white comb, and after two or three days eggs will be 

 found in the centre frames. This method of hiving should 

 be selected when a stray swarm is brought home. 



There is yet another way, and in the hands of a 

 competent man is undoubtedly the cheapest one. Since 

 the introduction of the Bee Diseases Act, a number of 

 people prefer to dispose of their bees (in kerosene and 

 other boxes) rather than incur the expense of a new 

 frame-hive. When the buyer is capable of distinguishing 

 disease, and possesses sufficient knowledge to transfer the 

 bees to a patent hive, he should use this means to acquire 

 a few stocks. 



PACKING AND MOVING BOX HIVES. 



This is perhaps a fitting place to describe the process 

 of moving a stock in a box hive. After the bees are 

 bought, they should be packed for removal. If the box 

 is a sound one — very few are, about one per cent. — give 

 a few puffs of smoke at the entrance after the bees have 

 stopped flying at evening — or at any time if it is raining — 

 and turn the open side upwards. If the journey is of 

 short duration, a piece of cheese cloth over the (now) top 

 secured to the edges of the box by four strips of wood 

 will do very well. If the travelling is spread over a 

 few days, wire gauze had better be substituted for the 

 cloth. Make sure that the hives are carried with the 

 cloth or gauze on top. The combs resting on their 

 attachments instead of being suspended therefrom, will 

 travel better in this position. 



Should the box-hive have some crevices that permit 

 bees to escape, adopt the old plan of putting the whole 



