§xi.] REMOVING BEES. 259 



§ XL REMOVINC; BEES. 



A vety great advantage that frame hives afford is the 

 safety and convenience with which a stock of bees can be 

 transported in them to any part of the kingdom or abroad : 

 by a few additional arrangements stocks have even been 

 sent in them to distant countries. In many districts 

 hives are removed to moors and heaths in autumn, for ; 

 the purpose of gathering heather honey. In this opera- 

 tion the frames are a great support to the combs, very 

 much lessening the risk of a break-down and consequent 

 loss. 



The proper course to pursue in this case is to remove 

 the crown-board, and nail across from side to side two 

 strips of wood with smaller pieces fastened on them so 

 as to secure each frame in position. Then nail a sheet 

 of perforated zinc over the top ; or in default of that the 

 crown-board may be screwed down, when, if the two . 

 strips are not over an eighth Of an inch in thickness, 

 they will secure ventilation without allowing the bees to 

 escapq. The combs must be scrupulously carried length- \ 

 ways, or they will break ; and if they are new and the 

 weather is warm, even with that precaution any but the 

 most careful hand carriage is nearly certain to ruin them. 

 If not going far it is best for the hive to be borne; 

 between two; but if this is impracticable the vehicle 

 used must at any rate have springs. 



It is most urgent in making such a transfer that the 



