of the transfer-board, to bring the comb to an upright 
position, and suspend it in the new hive, placing over 
it a sheet to exclude strange bees. In this manner, fit 
in all pieces of worker-comb. If small, the edges may 
be dipped in melted wax, and several pieces attached, 
to fill up the frame. Combs slightly wavy may be 
sprung straight, or if too thick to let the frames come 
together, they should be shaved off with a sharp knife. 
Lay all drone-comb aside, to be put into honey boxes, 
or next to the top of outside frames, if nice and white, 
or to be melted into wax if brown and old. After 
about one-half of the combs are transferred, the bees 
from the comb may be brushed into the new hive. The 
combs containing brood should be placed together in 
the center of the new hive, and the empty combs out- 
side of the brood. 
In warm weather combs are frequently softened, so 
that they will not sustain their own weight ; in such 
cases, they must be divided in the middle, and a cross- 
bar fastened in the frame beneath the upper half of the 
comb. If a shallow pan is placed beneath the combs 
in the new hive, a great deal of honey is occasionally 
obtained from the drippings ; if no pan is used, a cloth 
must be laid under, or the bottom board cleaned with a 
wet cloth before the bees are put in, otherwise the run- 
ning honey will attract robber-bees. 
After all the combs are transferred, fill up the hive 
