THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEE-HIVE. 209 



lifting the hive from a concrete floor it can be washed, and all 

 traces of faeces removed. 



29. It should enable the apiarian to remove the excess of 

 bee-bread from old stock. 



Bees always prefer new pollen to old, and if there is new 

 coming in plentifully, it is as well to remove a judicious portion 

 of the old. Nevertheless, "Don't discard the old love till you 

 have safely secured the new one." 



30. It should enable the apiarian to remove the combs, 

 brood, and stores (also the bees) from a common to an 

 improved hive so that the bees may be easily able to 

 attach them again to their natural position. A col- 

 ony transferred to my (Langstroth) hive will repair 

 their combs in a few days, so as to work as well as 

 before their removal. 



The method of transferring bees, etc., from a log or a gin 

 case hive is of the utmost importance, especially with beginners, 

 and in the bush. No hive, other than the bar-frame will admit 

 of this. Transferring is dealt with elsewhere. 



31. It should permit the safe and easy dislodgment of bees 



from the hive. 



This advice is of the utmost importance, and at once shows 

 the superiority of the Langstroth hive and others of bar-frame 

 construction over the old straw skip and other artificial bee homes. 

 To be able to regulate the numerical strength of the inmates of 

 a hive is the key to success. A frame of brood from a well-to-do 

 hive is not much missed, and in about three weeks is replaced ; 

 but the importance of giving a frame of nearly fully developed 

 brood to a weak colony cannot be over-estimated. To do so from 

 other than bar-framed hives is an impossibility. 



32. It should allow the bees, together with the heat and 

 odour of the main hive, to pass in the freest manner 

 to the surplus honey receptacles (supers). 



If the supers are difficult of access, or are divided from the 

 main hive pierced by holes, as is the case in the Berlepsch hive, 

 this necessary condition cannot be maintained. Thus the im- 

 portance of the frames of the super being placed directly over 



