26 



be prised apart, and one of the side frames removed to malie room to 

 get at any of the others. When finished the frames can be replaced 

 in their original position and the hive closed. 



The best time to handle bees is on fine bright days, when they are 

 flying freely and gathering nectar. The beginner should never inter- 

 fere with them on dull days if it can be avoided. 



Handling Frames of Comb. 



When a frame of comb for any reason is lifted from a hive it is 

 usually desired to see both sides of it. To the experienced hand it is 

 an easy matter to reverse it, but the beginner without some instruction 

 would find it very awkward to do so, and with a new comb heavy with 

 honey, and not well fastened to the bottom bar, he might turn it in 

 such a manner that the comb would fall from the frame. 



The illustrations show (i) the first position of the frame while 

 examining one side of the comb : (2) the second position ; the left 

 hand has been lowered and the right hand raised, while the frame has 

 been partly swung round : and (3) the hands have been brought back 

 to the first position, but the frame is upside down, and the other side of 

 the comb has been brought in view ; the same movements are reversed 

 to bring the frame back to its first position. By handling the frame 

 in this manner there is no strain whatever put upon any part of the 

 comb, and nothing is done that will irritate the bees. 



Fig. 20. — Handling Bees : Preparing to open Hive. 

 Photo, F. A. Jacobsen.] 



