42 ALEXANDER'S WRITINGS ON PRACTICAL BEE CULTURE 



how that method could be applied to colonies kept In a close house- 

 aplary. Yesterday I received a letter from a friend, wishing some more 

 light on this subject from me, for those who are keeping their bees, 

 like himself, in close buildings. I can see no reason why this method 

 would not be practical when applied to house-apiarles. All that will be 

 necessary is to make a temporary stand for the new swarm as near as 

 possible to the parent colony on the outside of the building, only have 

 the new swarm face in the opposite direction, so that they will realize 

 they have a new location. Then in four days remove all queen-cells from 

 the parent colony and mix up the bees of the new swarm with those 

 of the old colony as best you can, using some smoke so as to demoralize 

 them as they are again united into one large colony. Then remove 

 the temporary stand that the new swarm occupied, and the bees will 

 soon locate anew in their old home. 



I do hope every bee-keeper in the land, who does not care for In- 

 crease, will give this method of treating undesirable swarms a thorough 

 trial another season. With us it is the easiest way we have ever tried 

 to keep down increase, and at the same time have all colonies strong in 

 bees and maturing brood to make them still stronger in their working 

 force; and certainly they will work with more perseverance, and give 

 us more surplus, than when kept from swarming by removing queen- 

 cells, which puts them in a sulking condition, wasting much of their 

 time through our best harvests, which we should always try to avoid. 



April, 1907. 



TRANSFERRING BEES. 



WHY IT IS BEST TO PLACE THE OLD HIVE BELOW THE NEW ONE. 



Some have asked, referring to transferring, why I prefer putting 

 the undesirable hive under the one I wish to keep the bees in, instead 

 of on top, I will say I have always found them more inclined to com- 

 mence work above their brood where the temperature is warmer and 

 more even than under the excluder or near the entrance. I should- have 

 mentioned that it would be much better to place a frame of brood In 

 the new hive, then the bees would go up, and the queen continue to lay. 

 She will seldom commence laying in dry combs for several days, either 

 above or below the excluder, unless the colony is strong and honey is 

 coming in fast. One of the principal reasons for putting the old hive 

 under is that, at the end of three weeks, it will contain but little honey, 

 and its combs will be about ready for wax; whereas if the old hive is 

 placed on top, then we have but little honey in the new hive, and the 

 old one Is full of honey in an undesirable condition. This is especially 

 so If we use foundation instead of empty combs. It Is for these reasons 

 that I prefer putting the old hive under the new one. 



In one case the new colony at the end of three weeks will be all 

 that could be desired. In the other case the new colony would be light 



