TRANSFERRING. 
99 
which the combs are to be removed. The bees will gather into 
this as the work progresses. Lay a board upon a barrel, for a 
table, and upon this your transferring board, (18 inches long by 
14 wide,) upon which two or three thicknesses of woolen cloth 
should be tacked. As each comb is cut out, brush off Uie strag- 
gling bees, lest they get besmeared, and lay it upon this cushion, 
and upon it your frame. Mark inside the frame, and trim off 
the comb in such a manner, that when fitted into the frame, it 
shall remain in about the same position (top edge up) that it 
occupied in the old hive, as many of the cells incline upward. 
Cut the comb a trifle large, and spring the frame over it. Fit in 
all pieces of good worker comb , even if old and black. Combs 
too thick to let the frames together, should be shaved off. The 
drone comb may be known by its large coarse cells, and unless 
placed in the upper part of the outside frames, should be rejected, 
by which a stock will often be rendered very prosperous that 
was no profit to its owner before. "When transferred in the 
spring, no more honey need be put into the new hive than is 
necessary to secure all the worker comb, but if transferred late, 
plenty of honey should be given. As melted rosin or bits of 
tin are insufficient for fastening heavy combs into the frames, we 
use strips of wood, one-fourth of an inch thick by three-eighths 
wide. One of these slats is pushed under the comb, another 
laid on top, and the ends looped together with twine, liaise the 
end of the cushion-board, to bring the comb to an upright posi- 
tion, and set it into the new hive, which should be kept covered 
to exclude stranger bees. Care must be taken to place all combs 
containing brood or eggs, together in the centre, with the store 
