42 MONTANA BPXPERIMENT STATION 
and crushing bees and perhaps breaking. The bees will have to be 
closed up at night, or early in the morning before they begin to 
fly. Over the top of the hive it is often well, if the hive is to go 
a considerable distance and the weather is warm, to tack a sheet of 
wire cloth, removing the cover temporarily. It may be even neces- 
sary in the case of very strong colonies, to take the added precau- 
tion of giving extra space above the frames in which the bees may 
cluster. This may be accomplished by placing an empty super 
above, placing the wire cloth above that. The entrance should also 
te covered with wire cloth for ventilation. If the hive has a mova- 
ble bottom it will be necessary to make this secure. ‘For this, crat- 
ing staples are the most handy, though blocks of wood may be used. 
These fastenings would be suitable for securing the super where 
used as described above. 
The hives thus prepared may be shipped by express. If to be 
removed by wagon, a spring wagon should be used, with straw or 
hay in the bottom. The hives should be placed with the combs run- 
ning with the axle as then the force of the jolts does 
not strike the comb sideways, but on the edges in such 
a way that they can stand it better. It is better to move 
bees at night or early morning, so that they will be as cool as 
possible. Arriving at the new location of the apiary, the hives mav 
Le placed in position on the stands and with a lighted smoker the 
entrances may be opened. This is done first so that when the top 
packing is removed, the bees, flying out, will find their way in at the 
entrance without confusion. It is well, especially if the bees have 
teen moved only a short distance, to slant a board in front of the 
entrance, so that they, on flying out the next morning, will have their 
attention called to the change in location and take notice of their 
new and strange surroundings. Otherwise they are liable to dart 
off from the hive as usual, and when ready to return home, will 
naturally go back to the old location and be lost- In a couple of 
days these boards may be removed and normal conditions restored. 
Should the bees be purchased in the old style box hive, still 
commonly used among farmers, it might be desirable to transfer 
them into frame hives. This, however, should never be.undertaken 
late in the fall, as the bees would not have time.to recover from the 
disturbed condition of their house before winter. .These operations 
should take place in the spring or early summer.. 
