SPRING MANAGEMENT. 281 
any sticks have been inserted they must be at once 
withdrawn in the most careful manner devisable. 
If the hive is of no value it can be cut in half; but 
if otherwise, the honey-knives mentioned on page 
202 must be used to detach the combs. When this 
is done the Cheshire transferring board (or rack) is 
of most invaluable assistance for the rest of the 
work, in place of a common table or other board, 
which must else be made to do duty. This board 
consists of a sloping stand of parallel bars or teeth 
on which to lay the combs as cut from the hive. 
The figure shows its construction. A frame is laid 
upon the teeth, and within it the portions of comb 
are pieced together—preserving their original posi- 
tion on account of the slight tilt of the cells—tapes 
being bound round the whole, where needful. The 
operator stands in front (A B), the bottom bar rests 
at C D, there is a zine tray (GH) to catch drop- 
pings, and as soon as a frame is completed it is 
brought into a perpendicular posture by turning the 
entire apparatus (tray excepted) upon its hind end 
(E F), the angles of which are so adjusted that the 
