158 MANUAL OP THE APIARY. 



inside measure. I discarded such frames because of the 

 liability of the comb to fall out. 



Mr. Baldridge makes wads of comb, or comb-cappings, 

 which he finds good, and by pressing these against the edges 

 of the comb he wishes to fasten, he fastens them to the frames, 

 quickly and securely. 



Having fastened all the worker-comb that we can into 

 the frames — of course all the other, and all bright drone- 

 comb, will be preserved for use as guide-comb — and placed 

 the frames in the new hive — these should be put together 

 if they contain brood, especially if the colony is not very 

 strong, and the empty frames to one side — we then place our 

 hive on the stand, pushing it forward so that the bees can 

 enter anywhere along the alighting-board, and then shake all 

 the bees from the box, and any young bees that may have 

 clustered on any part of the old hive, or on the floor 

 or ground, where we transferred the comb, immediately in 

 front. They will, enter at once and soon be at work, all the 

 busier for having passed "from the old house into the new." 

 In two or three days, remove the wires or strings and 

 sticks, when we shall find the combs all fastened and smoothed 

 off, and the bees as busily engaged as though their present 

 home had always been the seat of their labors. In case we 

 practice the methods of either Captain Hetherington or Mr. 

 Baldridge, there will be nothing to remove, and we need 

 only go and congratulate the bees in view of their new and 

 improved home. 



Of course, in transferring from one frame to another, the 

 matter is much simplified. In this case, after thoroughly 

 smoking the bees, we have but to lift the frames, and shake or 

 brush the bees into the new hive. For a brush, a chicken or 

 turkey wing, or a large wing or tail feather from a turkey, 

 goose or peacock, serves admirably. Now, cut out the comb 

 in the best form to accommodate the new frames, and fasten 

 as already suggested. After the combs are all transferred, 

 shake all remaining bees in front of the new hive, which has 

 already been placed on the stand previously occupied by the 

 old hive. 



