72 BEE CULTURE. 
TRANSFERRING BEES. 
June is the month of swarming in the Northern States, 
while in the Middle and Southern States the early and 
abundant bloom signal its advent. The best time to transfer 
bees from the common to movable-frame hives is about the 
season of swarming, though it may be done on any warm 
afternoon, when the bees are actively at work. 
A transferring board (Fig. +7), about the size of the frame, 
should be prepared in advance, by making grooves of about 
one-half an inch wide and one-fourth of an inch deep, and 
about 2 inches apart. The spaces between these grooves 
should be cushioned with several thicknesses of cloth, to 
prevent the brood from being injured when the comb is laid 
upon it. 
Transferring sticks (Fig. 46) should be prepared from some 
light, tough wood, about one-half inch longer than the frames 
Fie. 45.—Frame of Transferred Comb. 
are deep, and about one-fourth of an inch square. Fasten 
two of these sticks together with a piece of fine annealed wire, 
so as to leave about one inch of space between them, (Fig. 
46); attach a piece of wire to the other end of one of the 
sticks, (Fig. 46, 5.) to be used in fastening when placed 
around the frame of comb. (Fig. 45.) A small notch 
should be cut to admit the wire, and prevent slipping.— 
These sticks should be made in pairs, and be kept ready for 
use. 
TRANSFERRING FROM A BOX-HIVE. 
After smoking the bees at the entrance of a box-hive, 
remove it some distance from the old stand, leaving an 
empty hive or box in its place, to receive the bees that 
