The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-07-03
HOW TO TRANSFER BEES.

BY transferring bees IS meant TemOV-
ing them from box hives, or log ''gums''
and putting them into movable frame
hives, or maybe changing them from
ore style of frame into one of a differ
shape or size. If the work be done at
the right time and in the proper man.
ner, it is not much of a task, although
to the beginner it may seem quite job.
Du ring the fruit bloom is the very best
time in which to do this kind of work,
as at this season of the year the hives
contain but little honey. New honey
coming in stimulates the bees to extra
work, causing them to repair the mutt
lated combs in a much shorter time than
usual, consequently requiring much less
work in fastening the combs into the
! frames. There are many different WAYS
of doing this. One of these is to make
holes through the frame with an awl;
then push thOrns OF sticks through these
holes into he combs. Some use sticks
! which reach across the frames and are
| fastened at each end with wire or
strings; others again simply use string
! to tie the combs in. This latter plan
does admirably during the fruit bloom,
| but if used during time when no honey
! is coming in, the bees will probable eat
| off the strings before the combs become
sufficiently repaired to stay in the frames.
! The most important feature about the
work is to have everything in readiness
before commencing. One will need a
hammer, saw, chisel. a small broom
| with which to brush the bees off the
combs smoker, water and a cloth with
which tC keep all the honey washed ND
clean. The work can be done out of
doors, but if at al convenient it is safer
to work inside, out of reach of robber
bees. After you have everything in
readiness, get your smoker to going
Dicely, blow little smoke into the en-
trance, wait few minutes for the bees
to ill themselves with honey then move
the hive back few feet and turn it bot
tom side up; give little more smoke
and drive the bees down among the
combs. Now il you wish to drive the
bees out, and we think it is the better
plan, you will need a box in which to
drive them. This should be one that
would partially fit the bottom of the old
hive; at least have one corner and two
sides fit go that the bees can crawl up
nicely. After your driving box is IN
place pound on the hive until the bees
begin going up into the box; keep this
mp at intervals until most of the bees
have gone into the proper box, after
which set it off out of the way and cover
with cloth, or it may be set on the old
stand to catch all the returning bees.
Move the old hive to where you are 60
ing to do the work, and take off one
side parallel with the comb. after cut
ting them loose. If the first two OF
three combs do not contain brood lay
them aside until you come to one that
does. Lay this on a table or board
Lay fran" over this so as not to de-
stroy any more brood than can be
helped, and cut to fit, cutting from the
inside of the frame but to make close
ct. Ifthe comb is not large enough to
fill the frame. fill out with the combs
first removed, but leaving out all droEe
combs. As fast as the combs are fast
ened into the new frames set them in
the hive and proceed until all are re-
moved. The combs should be paced
IN the same relative position that they
occupied in the cd one, that is, so all
the brood will come together, or the
bees may not be able to cover it. If
there is not sufficient comb to fill all the
frames in the new hive. close I'D the
extra space with division board. Cover
mp nice and warm and carry the hive to
the stand you wish it to occupy. Empty
the bees ont of the driving box down
in front of tbe hive and let them all 90
in. after which adjust the entrance
blocks to assist them in keeping out all
intruders. If the weather be nice and
the honey coming in some of the strings
or sticks may be removed in a day OF
, two. While doing the work other
things will suggest themselves, such as
to keep lookout for the queen. brush.
ing the bees from the combs as YOU Gu
them out. etc.-Indidnd Fdrncr,