60 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



takes more smoke to subdue them than it dees to keep 

 them under in the first place. 



TAKING OUT FRAMES. 



When the cover is removed the dummy is taken out. 

 If the dummy was on the near side, the frames are all 

 crowded to that side, allowing- me to lift out the farther 

 frame. Whether that farther frame is now to be put 

 into the empty hive depends upon circumstances. It is to 

 be put in if the next frame contains brood ; otherwise not. 

 For I want the brood-nest to begin with the frame next to 

 the farther outside frame, at least that is generally the 

 way. Then I can tell at any time afterward how many 

 frames of brood are in a hive, merely by finding where 

 the brood begins on the side next me. One after another 

 the frames are changed into the empty hive, making sure 

 that at least those containing brood maintain their original 

 relative positions. 



When the old hive is empty, then it is set off the stand 

 and the other takes its place. The order of proceeding 

 may be changed by first setting the full hive off the 

 stand and putting the empty one in its place. Or the 

 change may be made when half the frames have changed 

 their places. The last makes the lifting a little lighter, 

 but takes more time. 



The empty hive is now to be cleaned out, the hatchet 

 being used for all but the rabbet, which is a separate 

 contract. Propolis is used in large quantities in my local- 

 ity, and the trough formed by the tin rabbet will, in the 

 course of years, become completely filled. 



In the matter of propolis, there is a difference in 

 bees as well as localities. The worst daubers I ever had 

 were the so-called Funics or Tunisians from the north 

 of Africa. One colony put so much propolis at an upper 

 entrance that I rolled up a ball of it somewhere between 

 the size of a hickory nut and a black walnut. 



