artificial swarming. 
171 
it would be necessary, in loosening the frames, to pry 
them laterally, or towards each other, by which they 
might be brought so close together, as to crush the bees, 
injure the brood, disfigure the combs, or even kill the 
queen. 
The frames may be all loosened for removal in less than 
a minute :* by this time the sprinkled bees will have filled 
themselves, or if all have not, the intelligence that sweets 
have been furnished, will diffuse an unusual good nature 
through the honied realm. The Apiarian should now 
gently push the third frame from either end of the hive, a 
little nearer to the fourth frame; and then the second as 
near as he can to the third, to get ample room to lifl out 
the end one, without crushing its comb, or injuring any 
of the bees. To remove it, he should take hold of its two 
shoulders which rest upon the rabbets, and carefully lift 
it, so as to crush no bees by letting it touch the sides of 
the hive, or the next frame. If it is desired to remove 
any particular frame, room must be gained by moving, in 
the same way, the adjoining ones on each side. As bees 
usually build their combs slightly waving, it will be found 
impossible to remove a frame safely, without making room 
for it in this way; and if the tops of the frames have not 
sufficient play on the rabbets, and between each other, 
the frames cannot be lifted out of the hive, without crush¬ 
ing the combs, and killing the bees. In handling the 
frames, be careful not to incline them from their perpen- 
dicidar, or the combs will be liable to break from their 
own weight, and fall out of the frames. 
If more combs are to be examined, afler lifting out the 
* Without smoke or sweetened water, ten minutes may be spont in opening and 
shutting a single frame in a Huber-hive, and oven then some of the bees will 
probably oe crushed. The great caution recommended by Huber in opening his 
hives, shows that he did not know how to make himself independent of tho anger 
the bee* 
