TRANSFERRING. 301 
them rather large, so that they will just crowd into the 
frames, and retain their places in their natural position (fig. 
39), until the bees have time to fasten them. 
Now tack as many wires over them as may be necessary 
to hold them securely, and hang them in the hive. Drone 
combs should invariably be melted into wax. If drone-brood 
(168) is found, it can be fed to young chickens, who are 
very fond of the larve. The bottom board should be put 
under the hive just before carrying it out. 
When the hive is thus prepared, the bees may be put 
into it and confined, water being given to them, until they 
have time to make all secure against robbers (664). 
If there is danger of robbers, it is preferable not to put 
the bees into the hive till late in the afternoon. They 
should be shaken in front of the new hive on a sheet (427) 
like a natural swarm. ' 
When the weather is cool, the transfer should be made 
in a warm room, to prevent the brood from being fatally 
chilled. An expert Apiarist can complete the whole opera- 
tion—from the driving of the bees to the returning of them 
to their new hive—in about an hour, and with the loss of 
very few bees, old or young. 
580. When transferring in early Spring, it should be 
remembered that the worker-brood (168) is of great value ; 
and not the least bit of it should be neglected or wasted 
unnecessarily. After a week, or more, according to the 
season, the hive may be opened and the fastening removed. 
Dr. Kirtland thus spoke of the results of transferring 
some of his coloaies to the movable-comb hives. 
*“sT had three stocks transferred to an equal number of Mr. 
Langstroth’s hives. The first had not swarmed in two years, 
and had long ceased to manifest any industry; the others had 
never swarmed. All the hives were filled with black and filthy 
comb, candied honey, concrete bee-bread, and an accumulation 
of the cocoons and larve of the moth. Within twenty-four hours, 
each colony became reconciled to its new tenement, and began 
