21 6 DEPRIVATION AND TRANSPORTATION. 



containing brood, must be carefully preserved. The 

 upper box in storied hives is then free from brood, 

 and may easily be removed, not only without present 

 detriment to the inmates, but almost without their 

 knowledge. The modus operandi will be pointed 

 out afterwards. It is not impracticable to accom- 

 plish deprivation with the common straw-hive ; but 

 it is attended with so much difficulty, and is so 

 liable to failure, that it is seldom attempted. The 

 mode of proceeding, however, as recommended and 

 practised by Wildman, is to remove the full hive 

 into a darkened room, and by repeated strokes on the 

 outside, to force the bees to ascend into an empty 

 one, placed immediately above the other ; after which 

 the deprived bees are removed to their usual stand 

 in the apiary. In the mean time the operator, with 

 a thin pliable knife, cuts out the full combs, and 

 scrapes off with a spoon what may have escaped the 

 knife; he then returns the bees to their old hive. 

 To the great mass of those who cultivate bees, this 

 operation appears troublesome and dangerous ; and 

 where it is attempted, it often fails, from the desire 

 of appropriating too large a share of the stores, ,and 

 from the destruction of the brood- combs. In certain 

 circumstances, however, the operation, when done 

 judiciously, may, even with straw-hives, be done witfi 

 safety; and that is when the deprived hives are to 

 be immediately removed to the vicinity of heath* 

 Change of pasture is most advantageous to these 

 insects at this season ; for while the flowers in one 

 district have entirely faded, those of another may be in 



