64 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE iJEKS 



the empty one in its place. Ov the fhange may be made when 

 half the frames lia\e ehanged 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. Prop- 

 olis is used in large quantities in my locality, and the trough 

 formed by the tin rabbet will, in the course of years, become 

 completely filled. 



Fig. IS — Hive-seat with Strap-handle. 



In (he matter of propolis, there is a difference in bees as 

 well as in 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 liall of it souiewhere between the size of a hickorynut and 

 a blackwalnut. 



To clean out the rabbet the small end of the hive-tool is 

 well adapted. .Holding it perpendicidarly, with the edge of the 

 tool diagonally in tlie trough, I play it baclnvard and forward 

 until the trough is emptied of projiolis. Still 1)etler is a screw- 

 driver, rather sharp, ground to just the right width to fit easily 

 in the trough. 



