and its Economic Management, loi 



CHAPTER XI. 

 HOW TO STOCK THE FRAME HIVE. 



* 



I HAVE shown the reader howto construct and furnish his 

 hive, and will now explain the different methods employed 

 for stocking the same. 



The most simple way is to insert a swarm. Good swarms 

 of native bees can generally be bought from a cottager in May 

 for 105. or I2S. each. They would, in that case, be brought 

 home in a skep towards evening, when they may be shot out 

 upon the frames spaced as already shoVn and provided with 

 foundation, \yhen a piece of ticking should be laid over them 

 so as to not quite cover the whole surface of the hive, when all 

 will soon draw below. When they are quiet, arrange the 

 quilt carefully and place on the cover, and give an entrance at 

 least six inches wide. As the centre combs are built out and 

 filled with eggs, pajrt.them and insert one or two- of the outside 

 frames of foundation in the centre of the cluster until eight or 

 nine are well filled. By this time close the entrance to about 

 i^^-inch, having previously added warmer material above, such 

 as two or three thicknesses of carpet above the ticking or a 

 tray of chaff or cork dust two inches thick. 



Best Time to Transfer. 



Where one has straw skeps he will desire to transfer his 

 bees to the frame hive. This can be done in April to great 

 advantage, as it is just then that the stimulation does most 

 good, and excites the bees to extend the brood nest. 



