and its Economic Management. 8i 



The bees are first to be removed from the skep by either of 

 the methods before mentioned (pp. 17, 18), when the best combs 

 are to be cut to the right size to fit exactly tight into the bar- 

 frame ; all edges being cut quite square so that they go together 

 well and can be more readily secured by the bees. Tie two or 

 three pieces of J-inch tape round the frames to keep all in place, 

 and return the combs to the bees which may first be shot into the 

 bar-frame hive. They will soon draw among the newly-transferred 

 combs and clean up their house, where, after a day or two, one 

 will hardly tell where the joints were. Close up with division 

 boards, cover up warm, and keep the entrance not more than 

 one inch wide until it is absolutely necessary to make it larger. 

 Should the bees appear crowded with only the combs transferred, 

 give a frame of foundation in the centre, and another as soon as 

 they begin to cluster on the, outside of the division board. 

 Feed carefully so that there is always a little store in hand, but 

 not enough to hinder the operations of the queen. Continue 

 such stimulation until honey comes in. 



It is so frequently recommended that the contents of fixed- 

 comb hives should be transferred twenty-one days after swarming, 

 that I consider it advisable to show that this waste of time is 

 quite unnecessary. The swarm should be hived upon six or seven 

 sheets of foundation close to the parent colony and facing the 

 same way. Within ten days the young queens will be hatching 

 out when a cast or second swarm would issue. This appears to 

 have been overlooked; therefore I advise transferring on the 

 seventh day after the issue of the first swarm, first carefully 

 removing one of the queen cells before drumming on the hive. 

 While shifting the combs remove all the other royal cells, and 

 after the operation return the one previously removed, which 

 meanwhile should have been placed above the first swarm 

 between the quilting to prevent chill. As soon as the young queen 

 is laying freely, destroy the other and unite (p. 19) the two colonies 

 on the second evening following, when supers may be at once 

 put on. 



It is better that transferring operations be carried out in some 



