5 2 THE BLESSED BEES. 



hive, and found that nearly all the bees had left 

 their old quarters and were clustered in the new 

 hive. The new hive was now set on the old one's 

 stand, so that the returning bees would find a home, 

 and the old one carried to the shop. 



Most box-hives are built with two pieces crossing 

 each other at right angles from the centres of oppo- 

 site sides. These cross-pieces I sawed off by thrust. 

 ing the saw down close up to the side. Then with 

 the long chisel-knife the combs were cut free from 

 the sides of the hive all around, so as to leave them 

 attached only to the top of the hive, and as the hive 

 was then standing on its top the combs of course 

 would be left standing on the top, if the sides of the 

 hive were taken away. Then with a mallet and a 

 strong chisel I pried the sides apart, took them off, 

 and, quicker than I can write this account, had 

 them removed and the combs standing upright be- 

 fore me. Then I ran the knife along the top 

 board, loosened the first comb, and laid it on a table 

 which had been covered with a woolen blanket so 

 as not to bruise the young brood. Then an empty 

 frame was laid on the comb and with a very thin, 

 keen knife the comb was cut the size of the frame. 

 This comb was then fastened into the frame by 

 simply tying two cotton cords from top to bottom 

 around the frame at about three inches from each 

 end. In a moment this frame was ready and hung 



