78 THE APIARY; on, 



upon it to pass without scraping tlie next comb^ and there will be 

 a difficulty if the apiarian attempts to draw out one comb whilst the 

 other frames are located in their appropriate notches. Let the 

 operator gently proceed to Uft say the third frame (allowing it to 

 lodge on the little block that divides the notches) a little nearer to 

 the fourth frame^ and the second nearer the third, so as to admit of 

 sufficient space to lift out the end one. Very carefully and slowly 

 he should lift the frame by taking hold with thumb and finger of 

 the projecting shoulders that rest in the notch ; and he must not let 

 it tojuch or scrape the next frame or the sides of the hive so as to 

 crush or irritate any bees. 



After the end comb is thus removed, it will be easy to extract 

 tlie others, as there will now be plenty of room for drawing them out. 

 A hive of exactly the same size should be at hand ; and in case it be 

 desired to remove the combs and bees into another hive, care should 

 be taken that each comb occupies the same relative position that it 

 did in the old hive. 



In handling the frames, bear in mind that they are to be held 

 perpendicularly. To gain a view of both sides of the comb when 

 searching for the queen, or for any purpose requiring full inspection, 

 with a little dexterity in twirling the frame round, the reverse side may 

 be brought to face the operator, without letting the comb break away 

 by its own weight and so fall out of the frame, which it will do if 

 allowed to deviate from its upright or downright position. If the 

 operator could see an experienced person perform the operation, he 

 would quickly understand how combs may thus be handled without 

 any risk of a smash. 



When placing frames in the hive, care must be taken not to 

 crush a bee between the projecting shoulders of the frame and the 

 rabbets or notches on which they rest, and on no account must the 

 frame be let down with a jerk, or the bees will become exceedingly 

 fierce : the frame should be so slowly deposited in its place that a 

 bee on feeling the slightest pressure may have the opportunity of 

 escaping unhurt thereby. The crown board should be replaced by 

 first resting its front edge in its place, and then slowly lowering the 

 after part, looking carefully under, and momentarily raising it when 

 necessary to avoid crushing a bee. Should the hive have its super 

 on, the same directions may be followed. The super with its honey 

 board may be bodily taken away, and so placed and confined for a 



