HOW DONE. 293 



When the operation is performed at night, the bees 

 may be driven and managed in the same manner as 

 by daylight, or all may be taken into a shop or cel- 

 lar, out of the wind, where all the appliances are at 

 hand. 



HOW DONE. 



If the bees are flying, commence by blowing smoke 

 into the entrance, or elevate the hive and sprinkle 

 the bees with pure cold water, and jar the hive for 

 ten or fifteen minutes ; this will prevent the bees that 

 are in the hive from leaving it, and give them time 

 to fill themselves, and those that are out, time to re- 

 turn. The hive is then to be inverted, as represented 

 in plate XLII, fig. 69. B is the hive, and A is the 

 empty box set on the mouth of the hive for the recep- 

 tion of the bees that are now compelled to ascend. 

 A cloth may be fastened around the joint to prevent 

 the escape of the bees.* Now with a couple of light 

 sticks commence striking the sides of the hive smartly 

 and regularly, which is to be continued for about fif- 

 teen minutes. If there are any openings in what 

 was the top of the hive, but as it now stands, the 

 bottom, blow in smoke to accelerate their movements. 



At the end of the above time, lift the box which 

 now contains a part of the bees, and without turning 



*A gum-elastic band three inches wide, and of a suitable length 

 to reach around the mouth of the box, will answer the two-fold 

 purpose of holding the box firmly on the inverted hive, and pre- 

 venting the escape of bees. 



