222 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v. 



§ III. TRANSFERRING OLD STOCKS. 



AVe frequently find that the possessor of a stock of 

 bees in a cottager's common straw hive is desirous of re- 

 moving the whole stock, with brood and comb, into one of 

 our improved hives, in which the honey may be obtained 

 without the destruction of the bees. We mostly dis- 

 courage such a transfer, attended as it is with much 

 labour, and requiring a considerable amount of apiarian 

 skill. An old-fashioned hive may very readily be turned 

 into a humane one, simply by cutting out the middle of 

 the top of the hive with a sharp-pointed knife ; a piece 

 may thus easily be taken out, so as to leave a round hole 

 two or three inches in diameter, taking care that the knife 

 does not penetrate much below the straw, lest it reach 

 the comb or the bees. There should be ready a round 

 adapting-board, with a corresponding hole, which may 

 be secured on the top by putting four long nails through 

 the same number of holes in the board ; then a cap-hive 

 or a glass may be placed on the top, for the purpose of 

 admitting the bees, who will soon crowd therein to work. 

 This hive or glass will form a super or depriving-hive, 

 and can be worked as profitably as most of the improved 

 hives. For the sake of more sightly appearance, an 

 outside case, either of zinc, straw, or wood, may now be 

 dropped over all, and then, if well painted, the whole 

 will form no disfigurement to any flower-garden. 



This is, beyond doubt, the easiest way of overcoming 



