The Manipulation of Bees 247 



which the brood combs and any other good combs are cut 

 out (Fig. 109) and fitted into frames, being fastened with 

 string, rubber bands or strips of wood until the bees have an 

 opportunity to repair them. These frames are hung in a 

 hive on the old stand and the bees are then allowed to run in. 

 The cutting of combs, especially those containing brood and 

 honey, is a disagreeable job and, since combs from a box- 

 hive are usually of little value, this method is not recom- 

 mended. 



Plan 4. — Another method which is in some respects 

 better than those just given is to place the box-hive with its 

 largest surface uppermost. If the bottom is now open, it is 

 closed except for an entrance and a piece is removed from 

 the upper side of the box-hive. The hive in which the colony 

 is to be located is now put over the large opening and all 

 cracks and openings around it are closed. The upper hive 

 is filled with drawn combs or, if these are not available, with 

 sheets of foimdation. When the queen i;ieeds more room 

 for egg-laying, she will go to the upper hive and, after she 

 is located there, a queen excluder is put between the box-hive 

 and the new hive to prevent her return. As the brood 

 emerges below, the colony becomes established above. If 

 there is difficulty in getting the queen to go to the new hive, 

 the box-hive may be drummed. After the brood in the old 

 combs has all emerged, the bees may be drummed from the 

 box-hive and it may be treated as desired. 



Transferring from walls of houses. 



Swarms often locate in the walls of houses and it is some- 

 times necessary to remove them to prevent damage from 

 melting combs. If the cavity in which the combs are 

 built is accessible, the method is the same as in transferring 

 under the third plan, except that drumming is impractical 

 and the combs must be cut out with the bees still adhering 

 to them. A liberal use of smoke will subdue them. If it is 

 impossible to open the cavity without doing considerable 

 damage to the building, a bee-escape (Fig. 19) may be put 



