The Manipulation of Bees 
245 
Transferring. 
In increasing the apiary, it is sometimes profitable to buy 
colonies in box-hives because of their small cost. They 
should, of course, be transferred to movable-frame hives as 
speedily as possible, for bees in box-hives are of small value 
as producers, because of the impossibility of manipulating 
the combs. The advice is often given to beginners to buy 
colonies in box-hives and transfer them, but this advice is 
questionable. There is no more trying work connected 
with beekeeping, unless possibly it is the moving of a large 
apiary, and if a beginner can successfully transfer a colony 
from a box-hive he has proved his right to become a beekeeper. 
The best time to transfer colonies, if there is opportunity 
for choice, is the spring (during fruit bloom in the North) 
when the amount of honey and the population of the colony 
are at a minimum. However, the work can be done at any 
time during the active season, but there should be nectar 
coming to the liives so that while combs are exposed robbing 
will not be induced. If necessary, transferring may be done 
in a tent or cage of netting or wire cloth to keep robbers 
away, but the odor of honey may cause excitement in the 
apiary. If the field bees are out of the hive, the work is 
lessened. 
Methods. 
There are several methods of transferring and one may 
be chosen according to the plans and wishes of the beekeeper. 
Plan 1. — The box-hive is set a few feet to one side and 
in its place is put a hive with movable frames, containing 
full sheets of foundation or drawn combs. As the field bees 
return, they go at once to the new hive. The box-hive is 
turned upside down and a small box is inverted over it. 
The box-hive is now pounded continuously (the operation 
being known as drumming or driving) in such a manner as 
to transmit the jar to the combs and the bees desert their 
combs for the upper box. They cluster in this box like a 
