276 AGRICULTURE 



the entrance about one inch by placing two 

 pieces of stick under it at either side, and 

 then cover the board (already mentioned, 

 sloping from the alighting-board of the hive 

 to the ground) with a white cloth or sheet. 



The bees may then be sharply shaken 

 from the skep on to the sheet, and in a 

 few moments they will run towards the 

 entrance and into the hive. 



When they are all safely inside, the hive 

 front may be lowered, but the door must 

 be left open as far as possible. 



A bottle of thin syrup must be placed 

 over the feed-hole in quilt on the top of 

 the frames. Put on another quilt or two 

 above the calico one, and leave the hive 

 undisturbed for a day or so. 



If the weather is wet and cold feeding 

 must be continued, but it will not be neces- 

 sary if it is warm and fine, and there is 

 plenty of honey to be had. 



When the foundation is nearly all drawn 

 out, and the queen begins to lay, gradually 



