SHIPPING AND TUANSPOUTINO BEES. 807 



CHAFrER XL 



Shipping and Transporting Bees. 



587. In shipping colonies of bees by rail, it is not neces- 

 sary to give them much ventilation, if they are sent during 

 the cool weather of Spring. We have successfully shipped 

 hundreds of colonies to all parts of the U. S., in early 

 Spring, with no other ventilation than was afforded by the 

 joints of a rough block nailed over the entrance of the hive. 

 But, if the weather is warm, and the colony populous, plenty 

 of air is needed. We usually replace the bottom board by 

 a wire-cloth-frame protected by slats. The entrance should 

 never be covered with wire-cloth, but should be entirely 

 closed, for the old bees will worry themselves trying to get 

 through it, and it will soon be clogged with dead bees. 

 They should be given as much air as needed with the least 

 possible amount of light. 



When the colony is so populous, that draught through the 

 hive cannot injure the brood, we nail a screen over the 

 frames also, and shade it with a board nailed on slats, run- 

 ning across the ends of the hive. The closing of the portico 

 alone, if there is one, with wire-cloth, is not practical, as a 

 part of the swarm crowds into it and bars the ventilation. 



588. The frames should, of course, be securely fastened 

 in their places. For this purpose, Mr. Boot uses sticks, or 

 slats, of the depth of the hive, that fit between the frames 

 and hold them. 



New combs had better not be shipped at all. If there is 

 plenty of fresh honey, we would advise the extracting of all 

 that is unsealed, previous to shipment. When there is brood 

 in every comb, and the weather is warm, it is safer to 

 remove a part of the brood, and put frames of dry comb 



