DAVIS’ platform for bee-hives. » 
then commence smoking with any mild herbs through the 
miller-drawer under the old hive, rapping on the hive 
occasionally, and the bees will soon leave it and pass into 
the new hive. Then slide a tin over the connecting-hole 
of the new hive and take the old hive away. 
TO TRANSFER FROM ONE NEW HIVE TO ANOTHER, WHEN 
IT IS NECESSARY TO GIVE THE BEES NEW COMB. 
About the 15th of July, put perforated tin, or wove wire, 
over the connecting holes of the hives each side of the 
hive which you wish to transfer; also a tin under the front 
end of the hive that sets over the same feed-drawer. Then 
put a tin slide at the top and bottom of the hive, with the 
edges turned sufficiently to cover the connecting-holes. 
Take off the hive and turn it bottom up, under the 
transferring box, which is first placed in over the feed- 
drawer. Put an empty hive in place of the old one; then 
remove the slide from under the transferring-box, and rap 
on the hive, and the bees will pass through into the empty 
hive. Let the perforated tins remain a few days, then 
remove them, letting the bees together. 
Aboutthe 10 th of August (at night) close all the buttons. 
Stop (with perforated tin or fine wove wire) all connecting 
holes between the hives. The next morning open, every 
other button, at night close them; the next day open the 
others. The hives that have queens will work readily. 
Mark those that do not work as having no queens, and place 
them in connection with a hive which has a queen, both 
over one feed-drawer, having no tins betweeu them; let 
■“the rest of the tins remain until you move the hives apart 
to put in empty hives. In this way you have a full supply 
of queens. Keep feed in feed-drawers while the operation 
’goes on. , . 
As soon as it becomes sufficiently warm, and the bees 
show a desire to get out, then shove back the slide and let 
them down into the basement; let them exercise and 
empty themselves through the day, and at night close them 
