TKANSFEERINa BEES. 309 



cut SO as to fit, then cut them to the best advantage, and 

 after putting them into the frames, wind some cotton twine 

 around the upper and lower slats of the frame, so as to hold 

 the combs in their place, until the bees can fasten them. If, 

 however, any of the combs which do not fit, have no honey 

 in them, they may be fastened, by dipping their upper 

 edges into melted wax and rosin. When the combs are thus 

 disposed of, the frames should be firmly tacked to the rab- 

 bets of the new hive ; this will be more necessary, if the 

 transfer is made so late in the season that the bees cannot 

 obtain the propolis necessary to fasten them. 



As soon as the new hive is thus prepared, shake out the 

 bees from the box, upon a sheet in front of it, and when 

 they have entered, set it upon the old stand. The work is 

 now done ; bees, brood, honey, bee-bread, empty combs, 

 and all, have been nicely moved, and without more serious 

 loss than is often incurred by a moving family, which has to 

 mourn over some broken crockery, or other damage done in 

 the necessary work of establishing themselves in their new 

 home ! If this operation is performed at a season of the 

 year when there is much brood in the hive, and when the 

 weather is cool, care must be taken not to expose the brood, 

 so that it may become fatally chilled. 



The best time for performing it, is about ten days after the 

 voluntary or forced departure of a first swarm from the old 

 stock. By this time, the brood left by the old queen, will 

 all be sealed over, and old enough to bear the necessary 

 exposure. A temperature, not lower than 70°, will do them 

 no harm, for if exposed to such a temperature, they will 

 hatch, even if taken away from the bees. 



I have spoken of the hest time for transferring. It may 

 be done at any season of the year when the bees can fly 

 without danger of being chilled, and I should not be afraid 



