32 



smoking the colony vigorously and allowing the drummed bees to 

 enter the hive through a ciueen trap so as to keep out the young 

 aueen. Destroy the box hive, render the wax and use what honey 

 it may contain on the dinner table. This method -;-- J^^^J* 

 combs If the colony becomes short of stores provide them with 



food. . , , , . 



Sometimes the beekeeper desires to sa_ve th e combs ^''i^^^^'^ J^J^- 



In this case drum the bees into; 

 a box as above mentioned and 

 remove the brood combs aiul 

 other combs free from drone 

 cells, cut them to fit the frames 

 and tie them in place with cnrdv, 

 string. The bees will repair|^^ 

 the breaks, fasten the combs to 

 the frames and remove the 

 string. The frames should l)^ 

 placed in a hive on the old 

 stand in order not to lose the 

 returning bees. This procedure 

 more or less is disagreeable and 

 the combs thus obtained are olT: 

 little value. 



I By l>iHl;lllt) 



Figure 14. 

 Cutting Combs to Fit the Frames. 



REMOVING BEES FROM HOUSES AND TREES. 



Often times bees take their abode in trees and walls of a building 

 where it is desirable to remove them. This is best done by placing 

 a "Porter Bee-Escape" at the entrance which allows the bees to 

 come out but prevents their return. A hive should be placed on a 

 platform along the side of the entrance. The bees on returning find 

 their way blocked, and enter the hive. It is a good plan to place a 

 frame or two of capped brood and young bees in the hive which in- 

 vite the trapped bees to adopt the new shelter sooner than if only 

 foundation and drawn combs were present. Since the queen never 

 leaves the colony she is not trapped and continues to lay eggs, but 

 since the colony is rapidly being reduced in size the amount of brood 

 decreases. As the brood emerges the young bees leave the cavity and 

 Join the colony in the hive and finally the queen is left practicaally 

 alone. A queen should be introduced in the hive as soon as there are 

 enough bees to support her. After about five or six weeks the escape 

 can be removed and the remaining bees and queen suffocated by the 

 use of sulphur fumes. Replace the escape for several days. Then 

 remove entirely and enlarge the hole. The bees will go in and remove 

 :all the honey leaving only the empty combs. After the bees have 



