The Manipulation of Bees 245 



Transferring. 



In increasing the apiary, it is sometimes profitable to buy- 

 colonies in box-hives because of their small cost. They 

 should, of course, be transferred to movable-frame hives as 

 speedily as possible, for bees in box-hives are of small value 

 as producers, because of the impossibility of manipulating 

 the combs. The advice is often given to beginners to buy 

 colonies in box-hives and transfer them, but this advice is 

 questionable. There is no more trying work connected 

 with beekeeping, unless possibly it is the moving of a large 

 apiary, and if a beginner can successfully transfer a colony 

 from a box-hive he has proved his right to become a beekeeper. 



The best time to transfer colonies, if there is opportunity 

 for choice, is the spring (during fruit bloom in the North) 

 when the amount of honey and the population of the colony 

 are at a minimum. However, the work can be done at any 

 time during the active season, but there should be nectar 

 coming to the hives so that while combs are exposed robbing 

 will not be induced. If necessary, transferring may be done 

 in a tent or cage of netting or wire cloth to keep robbery 

 away, but the odor of honey may cause excitement in the 

 apiary. If the field bees are out of the hive, the work is 

 lessened. 



Methods. 



There are several methods of transferring and one may 

 be chosen according to the plans and wishes of the beekeeper. 



Plan 1. — The box-hive is set a few feet to one side and 

 in its place is put a hive with movable frames, containing 

 full sheets of foundation or drawn combs. As the field bees 

 return, they go at once to the new hive. The box-hive is 

 turned upside down and a small box is inverted over it. 

 The box-hive is now pounded continuously (the operation 

 being known as drumming or driving) in such a manner as 

 to transmit the jar to the combs and the bees desert their 

 combs for the upper box. They cluster in this box like a 



