Bee Keeping - Give Frames, Or Starters Of Foundation

If there is not enough suitable comb to fill all the frames, it will be best to fill the empty ones with comb foundation. Cut the foundation so as it will reach within one-eighth of an inch of the ends of the frame and about three-eighths of an inch narrower than the inside of the frame. If you cannot afford so much foundation, put a strip of any width (called starters) from half an. inch to wider along the center of the under side of the top bar of the frames, so as to give the bees a guide by which to build their combs straight in the-frames, and to make sure that they will be straight, place each frame with these guide pieces in them, between frames of comb if possible, but do not separate the combs that have brood in them till settled warm weather, or the brood may get chilled: , ,

As soon as the bees have-fastened the combs securely in the frames, which will be in from one to three days, the wires should be removed.

Another method of transferring is called the Heddon plan, in which the, combs are not transferred, and is as follows :

Prepare a hive and have the frames filled with comb, if possible; if not, put in. full sheets of foundation, or strips, as already directed, and place it. where the one stands that is to be transferred.

If one or more combs of brood can be procured from some other hive and, put in this the bees will be more apt to be contented with their new home. If neither combs or foundation can be had, proceed as directed under the heading "How to get straight combs."

This method of transferring should not be attempted except in warm weather and when there is a good, flow of honey. About swarming time is the best. Now drive out nearly all of the bees, as before directed, making sure that the queen is driven out with them, and empty them down in front of the new hive, and see that all enter. Then place the old hive a few feet back of its old (motion with entrance in the opposite direction from what it was before. After two or three days, move the old hive a few inches towards its old location and also turn the entrance a little towards its former direction, and so continue to do every day or two till it stands by the side of the new have with the entrance the same way, which should be accomplished in at least three weeks from the time the transfer was made.

In twenty-one days from the time of the transfer all the young bees will be hatched in the old hive, when all the bees should be driven from it and united with the colony in the new hive, first destroying the queen that is with the bees. just driven out. The old hive may now be taken apart, the honey be extracted from the combs, and then melt them into wax. If the surplus arrangements have not been added to the new have it may now be done. This method of transferring saves much work and perhaps many stings.