34 
The best time to transfer a stock from a fixed-comb hive is when 
the stock is so strong that the combs are 
86. Preparing a Crowded with bees, and the brood almost 
stock for transfer extends to the bottom of the combs; the 
from a Fixed-Comb sooner the transfer is effected after that 
Hive to a Bar-frame period, the better; the earlier the transfer 
Hive. is effected the better; therefore the stock 
that is to be transferred should be pushed 
forward by stimulative feeding (106), if it appears to be advis- 
able to do so. To stimulate the stock in the fixed-comb hive, 
a feeder should be fixed on the top of the box or skep containing 
it, in which a hole must be cut for this purpose; the feeder 
should be secured in position by wires or nails, and protected from 
the weather by a covering-box or skep. 
Prepare a stand (69) for the bar-frame hive. If the new hive 
is to be placed on the site of the old one, a 
87. Transferring good plan to follow is to move the old stock 
Bees from a Fixed~ two yards straight to the front of its old 
Comb Hive to a_ position, and then to provide a stand for 
Bar-frame Hive. the new hive on the site of the old one. If 
it is desired to place the new hive at some 
distance from the site of the old one, the removal of the old one 
should be carried out some time in advance as described in 
paragraph 182. Prepare the bar-frame hive as for receiving 
a swarm (75), giving from six to eight frames, in accordance 
with the strength of the stock to be transferred ; if some only, 
but not all, the frames required can be supplied filled with 
empty comb, place the frames containing foundation in the 
centre; push all frames to the front with the dummy, and in 
the space behind the dummy place empty frames, or cover the 
space with an extension board (95), the top of which should 
lie flush with the tops of the bar frames. Fit a quilt of 
linoleum, American cloth, or oil cloth, over the frames, and 
cut in it a hole 6 to 8 inches square, or about seven inches in 
diameter, in such position that the hole shall be in front of the 
dummy and over the centre of the frames when the quilt is on 
them. Place the skep or box containing the stock to be trans- 
ferred, over the hole in the quilt (Fig. 33) put on the lift, and 
pack well all round, to maintain warmth and prevent bees 
getting out under the edges of the fixed comb hive, and close 
the doors to 14 inches apart. Leave the feeder in position as 
before (86) and attend to feeding, as it is necessary to stimulate 
breeding (106). About seven to fourteen days after trans- 
ferring, turn up the quilt at the front corners to ascertain if the 
bees have descended to the bar frames; if they have, and if 
breeding has commenced below, remove the skep, and examine 
the frames for eggs or larve ; also ascertain if the queen is on the 
frames; if she is not, drive the skep (82) in order to find her, secure 
the quilt in its former position, place a sheet of queen excluder to 
cover the hole in it (Fig. 82) andreturn the skep or box, packing 
