98 
THE APIARY. 
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 oi 
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 flower's 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 
drone brood, and place it upon the opposite side of the hive from 
