THE PROTECTIVE BEE-HIVE. 41 
ject of the apiarian, in keeping perfect command of the movable slide 
or bottom should be, to examine the condition of the comb, and to as- 
certain whether a Bee-moth has gained admission to the hive through 
the Bee-entrance. This is possible, though it is a thing of very rare 
occurrence. ‘Their usual mode of operation is to deposit their eggs in 
the crevices and joints, and around the base of the hive. Ifthe moth 
enters the hive, the movable slide or bottom will be found to render a 
very important service. Even in this case the Bee-keeper has a 
remedy. He can rid himself of the enemy, by removing its eggs and 
young, and he should be thankful for any arrangement which enables 
him to do it. A movable slide or bottom, which has the necessary pro- 
tection when it is in place, and can be readily removed on various oc- 
-casions, and for various purposes, is no trifling affair. The longer it is 
used, the more the convenience of it will be appreciated. Its upper 
surface should be kept clean and sweet by scraping. Whenever a box 
is to be removed from the chamber of the hive, a tin slide is to be in- 
_ serted beneath it, to keep the Bees from ascending. Another tin slide 
is to be inserted upon the top of the first slide, to keep the Bees in the 
box. This upper tin slide for the time constitutes the bottom of the box. 
The box and upper tin slide are now to be withdrawn together, care 
being taken not to displace the lower slide, and likewise not to let a 
single Bee escape from the box. The operator should wear gloves, 
lest a Bee or two should escape. The box is now to be placed in front 
of the hive inverted, about ten or fifteen feet distant from it, and the 
tin slide removed, that the Bees may come out and return to the hive. 
The box should now be rapped with a breom-stick, to induce the Bees 
to leave it. As fast as they ascend to what is now the top of the box, 
or are found covering the comb, the brush of the broom is to be used 
in brushing them gently from the box to the ground, and they will re- 
turn to the hive. Operate in this manner until the Bees are all dis- 
placed, and the honey is yours. It will facilitate the operation to hold 
the box over the smoke of a cotton cloth, when only a part of the Bees 
have left it. The time for this operation is directly after sunset. A 
cool evening is preferable. In dry weather a vessel of water should 
be kept standing in the yard, to which the Bees may have access. 
9% 
3% 
