42 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



hive inside a sound chaff bag, and tying the mouth 

 securely. Of course bees packed in this manner should 

 be shifted in cool weather only. If the hives are to be 

 carted in a horse drawn vehicle, see that the combs are 

 parallel with the axle. If it is intended to transport them 

 by railroad, the combs should be parallel with the rails. 

 On arrival at the apiary, the box-hives should be placed 

 on the selected sites, and opened up after sundown. They 

 should be left undisturbed for a few days until the bees 

 get accustomed to their new surroundings. 



TEANSFERRING. 



This little spell will also permit the aspiring apiarist 

 to make preparations for the transferring operation. 

 He will require a bucket containing water, and a cloth 

 with which to keep his hands and tools free from honey; 

 otherwise the poor bees will stick to everything and 

 severely try the temper of the operator. Cleanliness and 

 neatness are the secrets of successful transferring. A 

 strong sharp table knife, hammer and chisel, also a few 

 pieces of string, (long enough to reach twice from top to 

 bottom bar of the Hoffman frames) and a case approxi- 

 mately the size of the box-hive should also be at hand. 

 Of course the frames to which the combs are to be 

 transferred should be wired and in readiness. 



A board a little larger than the frames will be handy. 

 If covered with a piece of hessian of double thickness it 

 will make a rough cushion on which to lay the pieces of 

 brood-comb. It is only brood — and worker-comb at that— 

 which should be transferred. To begin, lift the box-hive 

 to one side with the bottom up— this is best done during 

 the middle of the day— and in its place set down the 

 patent hive, the entrance of which should face the same 

 direction as that of the box-hive. Place the spare inverted 

 box over the colony and with two sticks drum quickly 

 on the sides. This causes the bees to leave the combs and 

 cluster at the top of the inverted box. 



