26 lifi'-li'eepnifi in V K'liinii . 



a s|ilen(.lid iKiney-priiclucing flora, if bee-ki-fi;ers will only go to it, that 

 there is no need whatever to raise plants .speciallv for honey. In Victoria 

 onlv a fraction of the nectar produced annually bv our natixe flora is at 

 present being gathered bv bee.,. 



VI. — Transferring Bees. 



Owners of bees in box hives who wish to adopt the more profitable 

 frame hive, or upon wdiom it has become obligatory to do so, can transfer 

 their bees to frames by whichever one of the three methods described 

 below best suits their circumstances. It may here be pointed out that 

 the adoption of frame hives does not necessarily involve the purchase 

 of expensive hives, honey extractor, and other appliances. Bees may 

 be kept in home-made frame hives, and the honey taken by cutting out 

 of the frames those combs which contain no brood and returning the 

 frames to the hives to be refilled with comb by the bees. A strip of 

 comb 1 inch wide should be left along the top bar of the frame ; if this 

 is cut to a V edge, very little honey will be left in the frame, and the 

 necessity for putting a fresh strip of comb foundation into the frame 

 is avoided, while yet straight comb building is insured. 



Under the Bees Act 1910, the Governor in Council may proclaim 

 districts in which bees may not be kept in other than prescribed hives. 

 Bv a regulation under the Act, " Prescribed iiive " shall mean any hive, 

 the combs of which are iu frames and capable of easv removal for the 

 purpose of inspection. In a further proclamation certain districts are 

 enumerated in wdiich the transferring of all box hive bees to prescribed 

 hives becomes obligatory.* 



In order to effect the change with as little inconvenience as possible, 

 hives wdth frames having starters (narrow strips) or full sheets of 

 comb foundation fastened to the centre line of the top bars, should be 

 in readiness so that all swarms wdiich issue may be hived in such. 



Transferring at Swarming Time. 



When a swarm has settled (or clustered), it should be hived in an 

 ordinary empty box, and, as soon as the bees are in, carried to tiie 

 spot which the frame hive is to occupy. 



Towards evening, when the bees are not likely to rise in the air 

 again, the frame hive is placed in position, a bag or cloth spread out in 

 front of file hive entrance in such a way as to provide an easy passage- 

 way into tlie hive, .and tlif swarm shaken or duriqied out of the box on 

 to the cloth. If the bees are slow in entering the frame hive or a con- 

 siderable number remain outside, they may be gently driven in by 

 blowing a little smoke on them; none, however, should be blown into 

 the hive. 



What to do with the box hive from wdiich the swarm came will 

 depend upon whether an increase in the number of hives is desired or 



• The districts mentioned in tiie ProcLimation are the Borouahs of Ararat. CI\mes, Hamilton' 

 Horsham, Port Fairy, Portland, Sale, Maryboroufih, Stawell, Talbot and the Shires of Arapiles, Ararat 

 Avoca, Avon, Bairnsdale, Belfast, Bright, Colae, l)undas, Hampden, Kowree, Le.^ton, Mclvor, Maflra 

 Minhamite, Mnitlake, Mount House, Portland, Stawell, Strathfleldsaye, Talbot, W^annon, Warrnambool 

 and Wimmera. 



