THE AriAKY. 137 



be transferred and all the queen-cells destroyed, when the stock 

 is ready for the Italian queen. The tools needed, beside those 

 shown in the cut, (fig. 13,) are a hammer and stout chisel for 

 prying off one side of the hive, and a long-bladed knife for cut- 

 ting out the combs. 



OPERATION. 



Prepare the frames in the new hive, by prying off most of the 

 comb-guides, and letting down the cross-bars to suit the size 01 

 the combs. After smoking the stock to be transferred, invert it 

 in the shade, and, keeping the bees down with your "smudge,'' 

 cut out a small piece of comb, containing brood, to place in an 

 empty box or hive upon the old stand. Also, if other stocks 

 are close, partially cover them to keep out returning bees. Our 

 common practice (if in warm weather) is to drum the bees from 

 the stock to be transferred, proceeding the same as in driving out 

 a swarm, (page 57,) until the bees have ascended into the drum 

 box, when it is removed and a cloth tacked over it, and left 

 mouth up in the cool shade until needed. "We now remove the 

 old hive into a sheltered place, or, if flowers are scarce and other 

 swarms near by, into a shop, out-house, or upon a clean barn- 

 floor. Now drive out the cross-sticks, and with the hoop-iron 

 sever the attachments of comb from the side of the hive upon 

 which the combs run nearest parallel and can be most easily 

 removed. Pry off the side of the hive with the chisel, cutting 

 the nails if necessary, and commence cutting out the combs. 

 Have a box, half the width of the hive, in which fasten some 

 dxone brood, and place it upon the opposite side of the hiv» from 



Note.— We have found it most convenient to use fine wire for fastening in the 

 combs. 



