168 TAKING HONEY. 



drawn, and the experiment tried again in a week 

 or two. If in an hour after the introduction of 

 the divider, the bees in the box intended to be 

 taken should exhibit symptoms of inquietude, it 

 may be assumed that the queen is not within that 

 box, the disturbance being caused by the anxiety 

 of the bees to have access to her ; whereas if she 

 be in the box, the bees in company with her will 

 be tranquil, and the excluded portion of the 

 family will be in a state of commotion. Having, 

 we will suppose, ascertained that the queen is in 

 the desired place, the second divider should be 

 introduced as before directed, when the box, 

 with one of the dividers underneath it, must be 

 removed. The apiarian, when performing this 

 operation for the first time, may find it con- 

 venient to raise a stage of empty bee-boxes or 

 other convenient articles, on one side or at 

 the back of the box to be removed, and upon a 

 level with the bottom of its middle board ; he 

 can ttui, after having introduced the dividers, 

 very easily slide the full box, with its middle 

 board and divider, over his temporary stage. 

 (This mode of proceeding may likewise be found 

 applicable on other occasions.) The operation 

 having proceeded thus far, the box is ready for 

 being applied over the hole of delivery, where 

 a floor board should be placed with its sliding 

 shutter open, and with an uncovered empty box 



