138 PuirmG on and taking off boxes. 



To assist them as muoli as jDossible, when swarms are 

 put in new hives, make the holes and use guide-combs, as 

 directed for boxes, which should cross the row of holes at 

 right angles. 



To make holes in the top of full hives, mark out the top 

 as directed for making hives and boxes. A centre bit, or 

 an auger bit, with a lip or barb, is best, as that outs down 

 a little faster than the chip is taken out, leaving it smooth 

 When nearly through, you can cut the remainder of the 

 chip loose, with a j)ointed knife, and take it out. If it is 

 between the combs it is well ; if directly over one, better • 

 with the knife take out a piece of comb as large as a wal- 

 nut. The bees will then have a passage through from 

 either side of the comb. 



After you have opened one hole, the bees will very 

 likely want to know what is going on over head, and send 

 out a force " to make a reconnoissance." To prevent their 

 interference, use smoke, and send them down out of your 

 way, till the hole is finished; then lay over it a small 

 stone or block of wood, and make the others in the same 

 way. When all are done, blow in some smoke as you un- 

 cover them, and put on the boxes. This process js not 

 half so formidable as it appears from the description. 



BOXES MAT BE TOO EAST OP ACCESS. 



Dr. Bevan and some others have made a cross-bar hive, 

 by laying strips of half-inch board, a little over an inch 

 wide, and half an inch apart, across the top, instead of 

 nailing on in the usual way. It is plain that in such a 

 hive, a bee can pass into the box without difficulty, when- 

 ever it arrives at the top. I will repeat my objection to 

 allowing too much room to passages into the boxes, tbat 

 the disadvantages of the extremes of too little and too 

 much room may be perceived. In these cross-bar hives 

 the animal heat rises into the box from the hive, making 



