578 
MANIPULATION OF COLONIES 
Fig. 2.—A side twist of the tool affords a strong Fig. 3.—Another method of using a hive-tool when 
leverage hy .which the frames are separated prying the frames apart, 
easily and without jar. 
Fig. 4.—The proper way to pry all the frames over 
at one operation. 
Fig. 5. — How the hook end is useful in fishing out 
frames and division-boards. 
HOW TO WORK OVER HIVES. 
Many yard men prefer to work with a 
sort of stool and liive box combined; yet 
others wish to have nothing to lug around 
except the bee-smoker and the hive-tool. 
As most hives are placed on or near the 
ground, one must either sit down on some 
object or kneel in front of the hive, to 
bring himself to the proper working dis¬ 
tance. Many use a hive-cover as shown 
in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9. It is always handy and 
has the further advantage of a milk-stool 
in that one can shift his body back and 
forth on the hive-cover in order to reach 
frames toward the near or far side of the 
hive, as the case may be. A seat that does 
not allow one to shift his body back and 
forth, necessarily requires more stooping 
or bending of the back. 
Occasionally it will be found desirable 
to turn the cover up lengthwise, and the 
author always uses it in that manner when 
he desires to place the weight of the body 
against the frame that is crowding over 
against its fellows. (See Fig. 8.) In pulling 
out a division-board, one has a little more 
leverage if he sits high rather than low. 
(See Fig. 9.) But if he merely wishes to 
separate the frames, then spend several 
minutes hunting for the queen or looking 
over the brood, as shown in Fig. 7, he 
should sit on the narrow side rather than on 
the end. In this the operator assumes a very 
natural, easy, and comfortable position. 
The left arm rests upon the knee, support¬ 
ing the weight of the frame, while the right 
arm holds it in a position for examination. 
A change of position is often restful. 
After one has been working over a number 
of hives, sitting down on the hive-cover, he 
finds it convenient to vary the position by 
resting on the knees close to the hive; and 
still again he may. find it comfortable to 
vary the monotony by standing upright, 
bending over only when it is necessary to 
remove a frame. 
Perhaps it may seem that the operator 
in Fig. 9 is taking things easy. There are 
times when only one hand can do good 
work. If one can assume a comfortable 
attitude, even tho it be only momentary, 
he ought to do so. 
Some of our apiarists will say they have 
no time to sit down, much less “loaf on the 
