83 THE APIARY; OK, 



left of the old entrance, in order that too large a proportion of 

 bees should not enter the new hive at the old position to the 

 impoverishment of the other. But we have found the mode 

 adopted with the cottage hive answer so well, that we see no reason 

 for recommending any different plan. 



It is the ofiice of the bee-master to assist, not to go in the least 

 degree contrary to nature. We know that when a natural swarm 

 issues forth it has its impregnated queen, and when located in a 

 new abode commences building worker combs, and leaves the 

 building of the few drone combs to a later period ; but if a division 

 of the hive should be made by putting half the combs in one hive 

 and half in another, the hive containing the queenless or embryo 

 queen will busy itself with building only drone comb, thus a number 

 of receptacles for useless bees is provided, which tends to weakness, 

 and eventually to loss of the hive. 



Ill the plan we have recommended for forming two separate 

 families, we nearly follow the nataral state of things ; the comb that 

 the queen is upon is the only one that is taken from the hive, and 

 this vacancy should be filled in by moving the frames together 

 so as to leave the empty frame at the end. The bees, under the 

 government of the impregnated queen, construct the combs and furnish 

 their new abode, which, as before stated, they will do with worker cells. 



By adopting the plan above described, the moveable bar and 

 frame hive will prove far superior to any of the dividing hives, 

 ■which provide for equal division of the combs. 



Perhaps the greatest advantage the moveable frame hive 

 possesses is, that a fall knowledge can be attained of its exact 

 state as regards the queen, the population and the quantity of food 

 in stock. During weather of a genial temperature, the combs may 

 on any fine day be inspected, and thus a knowledge being gained 

 of the deficiency existing in a hive, the necessary means may be 

 adopted for supplying the want. Sometimes such an examination 

 will verify the fears of the bee-keeper, when, having observed that 

 his bees have ceased to carry in pollen, he has thereby received 

 warning that the queen has been lost at some juncture when no 

 successor to the throne could be provided. Such a hive has entered 

 on a dovmward course, and will dwindle away entirely unless a 

 queen should be given to it, or else, some combs contaiidng 

 young brood not more than three days old. By the latter method 



