22 A Modern Bee-Farm 



introduced by Mr. F. Lyon, and has met with great 



success. 



Throwing. 



This is quite an old plan, and where the combs are 

 fixed, either by cross sticks through them in skeps, or in 

 shallow-framed hives, nothing can exceed its simplicity 

 and rapidity. Place an empty hive on a sheet upon the 

 ground, mouth upwards ; stand over the same with the 

 stocked hive held by the hands at the rim between the 

 legs of the operator ; raise the hive and lower it quickly, 

 then stop the motion with a sudden jerk just as the empty 

 hive is neared ; repeat as often as necessary and the bees 

 will be all thrown out. Wait a few minutes after smoking-' 

 them, lift the hive and proceed, when the bees having 

 discontinued feeding at the cells, will come out more 

 readily. This rough and ready process was carried out 

 only with the cross sticks through the hives and combs so 

 that the latter could not fall ; and Mr. Heddon has more 

 recently adopted the same thing with his shallow-fixed 

 frames. In the case of frame hives the bees will be shaken 

 down on the top, or at the entrance, of the lower hive, by 

 handling one frame at a time. 



rianipulating Bees in Frame Hives. 



The foregoing operations are seldom necessary with 

 movable-comb hives, as each frame may be removed at 

 will, and this meets all requirements. When any opera- 

 tion has to be carried out, first lift the material covering 

 the frames, and drive a few puffs of smoke among the 

 bees, replace the " quilt," and after a few seconds peel the 

 same off with care, and make the necessary examinations. 

 Remove and replace each comb carefully, taking care not 

 to crush any bees while so doing, and see that your smoker 

 is on hand in good order, in case they may get trouble- 



