The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-03-05
Written for the NEWS.
BEES AND BEE CULTURE.
BY G. o. COLLINS.
NO. 13.
TRANSFERRING nEEs. ETC.

Transferring bees from box hives
to movable comb hives is very
particular piece Of api5tical work,
and shoId never be undertaken
until the operator has taken lessons
under some skillful apiarian. Many
a valuable colony Of bees has been
destroyed by being transferred by an
ignorant and awkward operator. The
first colony I transferred proved fata0
to the poor bees and the owner
swore that he knew it could not be
done without killing the bees But
[ could show him better now. A
little adventure l had in the trans
ferring business down in Pike county
about fourteen years ago, occurs to
my mind just now, which | am
tempted to relate. An old farmer
had a colony Of bees in a very large
box hive, which he wanted trans
ferred into a rough movable comb
hive Of his own construction. To
use the old gentleman's expression,
1.-THE hive was Chock full Of bees and
they were dreadful cross" But
told him that l wasn't afraid, and if
| ne would assist me in getting the
hive away, I would fix them up in
short meter. The old gentleman
went into the house and brought out
a large piece Of mosquito bar, with
which he proceeded to envelope his
head, neck, and ears, and then drew
on a pair Of heavy buCkskin gloves.
A similar outfit was offered me but I
dsclined, remarking that l was too
old hand at the business for that.
Everything being ready l boldly
walked up to the hive and began
breaking it loose from its moorings,
and the old man took hold of one
side of the hive and the other, and
lifted it from its stand But the
bees were not inclined to submit
| quietly to such summary proceed
ings, and began to assail us with all
the fury of little demons. In less
than two seconds 1 was stung in fifty
places, my face, my hands and
wrists were peppered all over, and to
make matters worse the old man S
coat sleeves were either too short, or
his gloves not long enough to protect
his wrists, and the little vermin
taking advantage Of the vulnerable
point thus exposed to an attack
soon made it too hot for my old
friend, and with a yell that would
have done credit to a Sioux Indian,
he made a desperate effort to put
the hive back upon the bench, but
in doing so he struck the lower part
Of the hive against the bench,
knocking out upon the ground about
a bushel of bees, at the same time
letting 60 his hold and the hive fell
to the ground with a heavy thud
Instantly the air was black with an
cry bees. I retreated to the garden
where l thrust my head into a bunch
of asparagus, but it offered me no
protection and 1 again took to my
heels. As I emerged from the gar
den / caught sight of my companion
in misfortune, who was retreating in
disorder towards the barn. Some
how the bees had found their way
under his coat of mail and were
making the best of the advantage
thus gained, and in his frantic efforts
to beat them off only made room for
reinforcements, and the rubbing,
slapping, kicking, and jumping he
was doing would have passed muster
in iirst-class gymnasuc association.
The old lady was seeking refuge in
the milk house, and two dogs that
were lying on the porch when the
mishap occurred, went bowling by
and took out through the orchard
with about peck of bees in close
pursuit. But l did not tarry long to
see the fun, but took to the woods
and never halted until l got clear
out Of the county The bees were
cross for a fact.
To transfer bees properly, requires
both skill and courage, and no one
should undertake such work who is
afraid of them or lacks the necessary
skill. The best time to transfer is
about the middle of May or first oI
June, when the weather is warm and
the bees are busy at work. The first
thing to do is to get everything
ready. The operator must provide
} himself with a box about a foot deep
. and large enough to fit over the
mouth of the hive from which the
bees are to be transferred. Then he
must have a good butcher knife, q
, hatChet and cold chisel, bucket o.
. water and a cloth to clean his hands
when smeared with honey, o. few
thin strips Of fine wood, long enOugt
, to fit tight inside the frames to faster
in small pieces Of comb, and som,
p narrow strips of muslin to tie arOunC
. the combs to hold them in tht
r. frames until the bees get them fas
tened Everything being in readi
ness the operator goes to the hive t
be operated upon, and blowing a few
whid.s of smoke in at the entrance L
subdue the bees, he gently remove
y the hive from its stand and convey
it two or three rods away, and in
verting it places his drumming bo
over the mouth of the hive auu