Transferring bees from one moveable frame hive to another is a very simple operation. To transfer a colony from a box to a movable frame hive is a much more difficult job. So often people put a stray swarm in an empty box and think they have a hive of bees that will supply them with honey. Sooner or later they are bound to discover that they only have a box of bees which never produce a surplus. To be sure a board may be pried off the box and a slab or two of honey dug out occasionally but it will almost always be mixed with bee bread and therefore uneatable. It is contrary to the laws of most states to keep bees in log gums or box hives because it is impossible to inspect them for disease. The question is how to transfer them into a standard hive. It is not so difficult if gone at in the right way. You will need a one story hive, half of the frames of which should be empty, the remainder set with full sheets of foundation, a butcher knife, a ball of string and a smooth board the size of a hive cover. Spread a canvas or some sacks on the ground beside the box hive. Set the box hive upside down on it. Pry off the part that will then be the top, also one side. Cut out one comb at a time driving the bees back with smoke. Brush the combs free from bees and set them aside. By the time you have gotten the combs all out of the box most of the bees will be on the outside and on the canvas. The next trick is to fit as much as possible of the comb into the empty frames and tie it fast. Lay the comb on the board. Use an empty frame as a gauge or pattern by which to trim off the edges so the frame will fit snugly over it. Tie the string to one corner of the frame then wrap the string around and around frame and comb allowing about two inches between each wrap, making fast at the opposite end of the frame. Place the framed comb in the new hive, keeping the brood together. Now brush as many bees as you can off the box into the hive and fill it out with frames set with foundation. Set the hive near the bees on the canvas and they will soon all go in. If you happen to see the queen, see that she gets into the hive. It is little use to look for her, she simply has to take her chance of being killed in the mix-up. If she is lost you will know it by the presence of queen cells in the hive two to four days later.

Transferring as above described should only be done in the spring or early summer when nectar is coming in freely. If bad weather comes on shortly after, the colony should be fed (see "Feeding"). The colony is bound to be badly upset for a few days. Much of their comb will have been discarded in the operation, new combs must be drawn, so see that they have plenty to eat.

Once they are established in their new home you will have a colony of bees that may be handled with ease. Supers may be put on at the proper time and surplus honey removed with a minimum of disturbance to the colony.

Getting a start in bees by removing them from buildings or bee trees is an idea that most beginners seem to experiment with. It looks easy until you try it. I will not take space to explain how it may be done because it seldom pays if one's time is worth anything. But it sometimes does work to set out decoy hives on the chance of capturing stray swarms that may choose to go into them. An old hive supplied with frames of foundation and a comb or two makes a good decoy. They should be up off the ground, preferably in the crotch of a tree or on a garage roof, one or two in a place. Do not put out decoy hives until the swarming season is on. Beware of places infested with ants and spiders; they are both enemies of bees and until you have your bees captured you must consider their notions. Visit your decoys every few days and bring away the hives with bees in them. Do not place another decoy on the spot unless you are moving the captured swarm at least four miles distant, otherwise some of the bees will return to the spot and go in the replace hive and in that way prevent another swarm from occupying it. You will find that some spots will be lucky and others will not, I have never been able to explain why.