PIPTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 53 



and 3 inches wide. It is lightly nailed upon the hive by one or 

 two small nails, and at one lower comer a notch 1 inch square 

 or less is cut out. I think that small entrance helps to prevent 

 "drifting" when the bees take their first flight. 



GIVING STORES. 



When the bees are being carried out, if any are noted as 

 suspiciously light, they are marked, and the next day frames of 

 honey are given them. If, unfortunately, these are not to be 

 had, sections of honey are put in the hive in wide frames, or 

 shoved under. 



HAULING BEES. 



As soon as the bees have had a good flight, those not in the 

 home apiary are ready to be hauled away. I like to get them 

 away as soon as possible, so as to have advantage of the spring 

 pasturage at the out-apiaries, but sometimes the condition of 

 the roads causes delay. I first hauled four colonies at -a time on 

 a one-horse wagon, which you may imagine was very slow-work. 

 'J'hat was years ago, and the- number has been graduallyHn- 

 creased ugtili-Qow 40 or'=50 Colonies are taken at a load.-'', 



WAGON irOR HAULIN,G;. '' >'." . 



After several changes; I .used for a good While a common 

 farm-wagon with lisg,vy springs put under the box. Nine colo- 

 nies Wese put in the box; then a rack (Fig. 15) (made in two 

 par^' for convenience in handling) was put on the box^ and 22 

 colonies were set on the rack, making 31 colonies in a load. 

 After that I used a flat hayrack or a drayman's pla'tf orm, tkk- 

 ing 40 or 50 colonies at a load. 



PREPARATIONS FOR HAULING. 



All the hives have fixed-distance frames, so no preparation 

 is needed in the way of fastening frames in place before haul- 

 ing. The only thing to do is to fasten the cover and close the 

 entrance. The cover is fastened to the hive by two staples (the 

 same as those used to fasten the bottom-board to the hive), one 

 staple at the middle on each side. Hives that were brought 

 from the out-apiaries the previous fall have the covers already 

 fastened, for they have never been opened since coming home, 



