98 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



ience in swarm catching and hiving, do not get excited or hurried 

 over the job. It is the quiet, easy movements that will bring 

 success. You have no occasion to be afraid of the bees. When 

 they have the swarming impulse on they are most docile, and 

 put on their best behaviour. You may do almost anything with 

 them if you move and handle them gently. I have seen the most 

 timid ladies, when given to understand this, and shown how to 

 do it, pick bees up by the handful without being stung, and you 

 may do the same. In doing so, put no pressure whatever on 

 the bees. 



If the bees settle some distance from the apiary, as soon as 

 about two-thirds of them are in the receiving-box begin to remove 

 them homewards by easy stages — at first say 5 or 6 yards, and 

 increase the distance each removal. As soon asi you see that the 

 bees have found the box, give the move-on order, and shift the 

 box nearer home. Do not wait till sundown to take your bees 

 home. The stragglers will follow the box. There will be some 

 few that may not do so ; these will return to the hive from whence 

 they came. 



Presuming that you have been following all the advice I here 

 tender, and the permanent home for your bees has been "swept 

 and garnished," and in every way ready to receive its inhabi 

 tants, the last stage in the removal of the receiving-box containing 

 the bees should be close to their permanent home. Remove the 

 lid of the hive and its quilt, exposing all the frames to full view. 

 Take your box of bees, and with one jerk tumble the bees m 

 amongst the frames. In a very few minutes they will have des- 

 cended into the hive, and cluster to the frames. Put the quilt 

 over them, placing a stone on either corner to prevent the wind 

 lifting it. Shortly afterwards remove the stones and put the lid 

 of the hive in its place. The bees will soon find the entrance, 

 and your trouble is over. 



Probably next morning you will find them very quiet. They 

 are secreting wax and comb-building. Remove the lid and quilt, 

 and see if all the frames are correctly spaced ; if they are not, you 

 know what to do without me telling you. Some on the following 

 day will be seen examining the hive, flying a little way off, 

 and returning. They are learning the geography of the neigh- 

 bourhood. Within a few days you will see them carrying in 

 pollen. All the danger of their leaving the hive is, perhaps, now 

 over. I say "perhaps," because bees are such erratic things. 



