TRANSFER OF BEES.

Patea Mail, 23 October 1880, Page 4

TRANSFER OF BEES.

The best time to transfer is early in the season, when there is but little honey in the Hives, though it may be clone at any time if sufficient caution is used; still it should never be clone except on warm clays, when the bees are actively engaged in storing. After the bees are busy at work, approach the old hive, blow a little smoke into the entrance to quiet the bees, then carry the hive off a few feet, and turn it bottom up. Place a box over the hive—it will make no difference whether it fit close or not, if the bees arc so smoked as to bo thoroughly alarmed—and with a stick rap on the lower hive for twenty minutes. The bees will find the honey and go with the queen into the upper hive and cluster. If towards the last wo carefully set the box off once or twice, and vigorously shako the hive, and then replace the box, we will hasten the emigration of the bees, ami make it more complete. A few young bees will still remain in the old hive, but these will do no harm. Now put the box on the old stand, leaving the edge raised so that the bees which were out may enter, and so that all the bees can get air. Now knock the old box apart, cut the combs from the sides, and get them out of the old hive with just as little breakage as possible. Uf course in transferring from one frame to another, the matter is much simplified. In this ease, after thoroughly smoking the bo.es, we have, but to lift the frames, and shake or brush the bees into tho now hive. Now, cut the comb in tho host form to accommodate the now frames, and fasten as already suggested. After the combs arc all transferred, shako all remaining bees in front of the new hive, which has already been placed on the stand previously occupied by the old hive.