CHAPTER XI. 



Shipping and Transporting Bees. 



587. In shipping colonies of bees by rail, it is not neces- 

 sary to give them much ventilation, if they are sent during the 

 cool weather of Spring. We have successfully shipped hun- 

 dreds of colonies to all parts of the U. S., in early Spring, 

 with no other ventilation than was afforded by the joints of 

 a rough block nailed over the entrance of the hive. But, if 

 the weather is warm, and the colony populous, plenty of air 

 is needed. We usually replace the bottom-board by a wire- 

 eloth-frame protected by slats. The entrance should never be 

 covered with wire-cloth, but should be entirely closed, for the 

 old bees will worry themselves trying to get through it, and 

 it will soon be clogged with dead bees. They should be given 

 as much air as needed with the least possible amount of light. 



When the colony is so populous, that draught through the 

 hive cannot injure the brood, we nail a screen over the frames 

 also, and shade it with a board nailed on slats, running 

 across the ends of the hive. The closing of the portico alone, 

 if there is one, with wire-cloth, is not practical, as a part 

 of the swarm crowds into it and bars the ventilation. 



588. The frames should, of couise, be securely fastened 

 in their places, unless the colonies are in self -spacing frames 

 held in place either by a metal spacer (3-46) or by pro- 

 jections of the wood (298, 299). In addition, some Apia- 

 rists fit w(3oden slats between the combs to keep them firmly 

 in place. This is necessary only when hives are likely to be 

 overturned. 



New combs had better not be shipped at all. If there is 

 plenty of fresh honey, we would ad\ise the extracting of all 

 that is unsealed, previous to shipment. When there is brood 



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