TRANSFERRING. 297 
\ 
The best time to buy full colonies of bees, is Spring. A 
cool day may be selected, in which to move them, as the 
bees are not flying, none can be lost. In the present thriv- 
ing state of bee-keeping, colonies of pure Italian bees (551) 
in movable frame hives (286) can usually be bought at 
very reasonable figures. If the Apiarist’s means are very 
limited, black bees (549) in old style box-hives may prove 
the cheapest, if they can be found. But they should be 
promptly transferred into more practical hives, and Italian- 
ized (489); these manipulations will help to give to the 
novice the practice which he lacks. Italian bees and mov- 
able-frame hives are now a sine qua non of success. 
No colony should be purchased, unless it has brood in 
all stages, showing that it has a healthy queen. For trans- 
porting bees, see (587 and 603). 
TRANSFERRING BrEes rrom Common TO MovaBLe-FRAME 
Hives. 
574. This process may be easily effected whenever the 
weather is warm enough for bees to fly. 
It has sometimes been done in Winter, for purposes of 
experiment, by removing the bees into a warm room, but 
the best time for it, is when the bees have the least honey, 
ai the beginning of the fruit bloom. If it can be done ona 
warm day, when they are at work, there will be but little 
danger from robbers (664). 
It is conducted as follows: Have in readiness a box— 
which we shall call the forcing box—whose diameter is about 
the same with that of the hive from which you intend to 
drive the swarm. Smoke the hive, lift it from its bottom- 
board without the slightest jar, turn it over, and carefuuy 
carry it off about a rod, as bees, if disturbed, are much 
more inclined to be peaceable, when removed a short dis- 
tance from their familiar stand. If the hive is gently placed 
