28 



It may be well to remark here that all movements about the hive should 

 be quiet and deliberate, and there should be no jarring of any part of it, as 

 nothing irritates the bees so much as jarring their hive. Lift one corner of 

 the mat, and blow another puff or two down between the frames while 

 removing the mat altogether (see Plate IX). By this time the bees 

 should be pretty quiet, but keep the smoker near by, and it they begin to 

 " boil " up over the frames, give them another pufi or two of smoke. The 

 frames may now be prized apart, and one of the side frames removed to 

 make room to get at any of the others. When finished, the frames can 

 be replaced in their original position and the hive be closed — a screwdriver 

 or an old chisel is a hand)' tool to have. 



The best time to handle bees is on fine bright days when they are flying 

 freely and gathering honey. The beginner should never interfere with them 

 on dull gloomy days if it can be avoided. 



HANDLING FRAMES OF COMB. 

 When a frame of comb lor any reason is lifted from a hive, it is usually 

 desired to see both sides of it. To the experienced hand it is an easy 

 matter to reverse it, but the beginner without some instruction would find 

 it very awkward to do so, and with a new comb heavy with honey, and 

 not well fastened to the bottom bar, he might turn it in such a manner 

 that the comb would fall from the frame (see Plates, X, XI, and XII. 



Plate X shows the first position of the frame while examining one side of 

 the comb. Plate XI shows the second position : the left hand has been 

 lowered and the right hand raised, while the frame has been partly swung 

 round. In Plate XII the hands have been brought back to the first position, 

 but the frame is upside down, and the other side of the comb has been 

 brought in view ; the same movements are reversed to bring the frame 

 back to its first position. By handling the frame in this manner there is 

 no strain whatever put upon any part of the comb, and nothing is done that 

 will irritate the bees. 



VI. WORKING BEES ON SHAEBS. 



It is by no means an uncommon thing in some parts of America for one 

 man to engage to work another man's bees on shares, and I have several 

 times been called upon for advice on this matter in New Zealand. Though 



