11 



submerged in the water. Then remove the top and bottom of the box- 

 hive, using smoke to subdue the bees, and place the box-hive in the recep- 

 tacle, which is to hold the water, with the newly prepared hive on top. 

 It is a good plan to place two pieces of wood in the receptacle, on which 

 to stand the box-hive, so that the water can enter easily and quickly. 

 Pour water in the receptacle until the box-hive is just submerged, the 

 bees will then ascend into the newly-prepared hive after which this can 

 be removed and placed on its bottom-board on the stand previously occu- 

 pied by the box-hive. 



The box-hive can be destroyed, the honey removed, and combs rendered 

 into beeswax. In case American foulbrood is present, this transfer amounts 

 to a treatment, but care must be taken to prevent the bees securing honey 

 from the box-hive if disease is present. 



When to Teansfer. 



Naturally, the beekeeper will inquire when is the best time to transfer 

 bees. The experienced beekeeper knows that with proper precautions he 

 can transfer almost at will. The beekeeper with less experience, however, 

 would probably get into trouble, unless he transferred his bees at a season- 

 able time. The hest time is at the beginning of a good honey-flow. At 

 this time the tees can he handled more easily and the prohahility of 

 robbing is reduced to a minimum. 



If the honey-flow should suddenly cease after a transfer has been made, 

 it would be well to feed for a few days until the honey flow begins again. 

 In ordinary seasons the bees should secure enough stores to carry them 

 over any break in the flow, unless long continued. 



The beekeeper is advised to read each method carefully before deciding 

 on which to follow, and then when he is sure of the directions, to make 

 all preparations before beginning operations. He will then find that trans- 

 ferring bees is a simple and a profitable undertaking. 



