Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-07-09
TRANSFERRING BEES.
Successful Methods of Getting bees Into
Improved Movable Hives.


Improved Movable Hives,
AS we have received numerous qucs-
tions in reference to transferring, we
will give tho method VIC use in as
small space as possible In trans
ferring from old box hives into nova
bic frames the very first thing to do is
TO have all tools and implements used
IN the operation at hand, ready for use.
The necessary tools consist of ham
mep, good stout chiscl for prying of
side of hive and cutting, long-bladed
sharp knife for cutting out the combs,
and n hook made like common stove
poker, with bent end sharpened; this
is for loosoning tho combs when the
side of box hive is not taken off. Also
one of our threo-inch smokers The
very best time for the operation of
transferring bees is as soon as the
fruit trees begin to bloom, and from
that time until swarming. / say when
the fruit trees are in bloom because /
mean that the beginner can safely take
hold of the job Mt that time and run no
chances of his operations being n fail
urc. Again, when they are gathering
honey very rapidly they will repair
the comb very quickly and be more
prosperous than before. After quiet
ing the stock TO bo transferred,
by the use of your smoker,
invcrt IL and keep the bees
down, then set box up-sidc-down over
the inverted hive, and be careful that
no bees can get around the box; then
Gas is our practicc) get two sticks and
set down by your hive and drum on
each side of it until the bees have
assembled into the inverted box; now
remove the box and tack n piece of wire
cloth over it, and set it aside until you
are ready for the bees. Now move the
old hive anywhere you intend to do the
work of transferring, but l would adj
wise sheltered place, for if you have
other stocks around look out for rob-
bers. Now drive out the cross sticks,
which you will find about midway from
top to bottom of box hive, and sever
the attachment of comb on side of hive
which can be most easily removed.
Pry off the side of your hive with your
| chiscl, cutting the nails if necessary,
and you are now ready TO carve. Have
your table, that you are to work on,
| near by, on which is cushion of cot
| ton-batting, covered with cloth, about
four inches thick. On this lay your
comb. after brushing off any bees which
might be on it, on this comb lay your
frame. Mark inside the frame and cut
the comb to fit the frame snug (it would
| be best to cut tho comb n little larger
and spring frame over iD take all the
| little pieces and fit them in the frames
when necessary. / would not advise
| you to transfer any dronc comb. Pos
sibly YOU will find some combs too
thick, in fact SO much so that they will
not allow the frames to fit close to-
gether; if so, shave them of. When
the frame is full of comb, take strips of
wood one-quartcr of an inch thick
and about onc-half inch wide, these
strips to extend triilc below and
above bottom and top bar of frames;
place these one Cor rs many rs neces-
sary) on each side of frames; over these
extended ends snap small rubber
band; the frame is now ready TO set in
the hive, which should be on the old
stand. | say use rubber bands because
in few days these sticks may be re-
moved, and all that is necessary is to
open the hive, pull band of of top of
sticks and gently pull the stick, and
the band ut bottom snaps off, so that it
| Is not necessary to remove the frame,
as it is when cord is used. The new
hive should be kept well covered, so rs
to exclude other bees. BE sure and get
all combs containing eggs or brood in
the center of the hive. with combs
containing honey outside; now bring
the box containing the bees to the
hive, spread q sheet on the ground
Mt the entrance on which TO shake the
bees and brush them very gently with
one of our bee-brushes. until they have
all entered the hive. Nov place the
cap on hive, shade the entrance from
the sun, and your job is done. Here
is very simple way to get the bees
from an old boX-hivc into u movable
hive, which | have advised tmid per-
sons to do, and they have met with the
best of success: Take your movable
frame hive and fill the frames with
worker foundation; remove the cap
and set the hive on stand occupied by
the old hive, then raise the old hive
and place it on top of brood frames of
new hive containing foundation. 1t
will not be very long before the bees
pull this foundation out and the queen
will come down and 90 TO laying eggs,
and in this way they will gradually
vacatu the upper hive and take up their
residence below, and you can then c,lt
your combs and transfer at will ! dc
not advise this way of doing, but sim
ply give it for those who are either toe
, timid or do not want to 20 to the
trouble of transferring as given above.
". Il. TreadmcH, in Bce-RcepcrS'