90 THE PEACTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



ing pieces of comb or foundation on which the bees may cluster. 

 The front and the sliding bottom are ventilated with perforated 

 zinc. When a stock is to be driven, the box is fixed upon the 

 skep as shown, and, after the operation, the bottom is slipped 

 into its place, and all is ready to be carried away. When all 

 the bees are driven, put them and their skep, or box, back on 

 the old stand in place of the empty skep left there to receive 

 flying bees, which bees should now be shaken out on a board 

 before the entrance to the skep or box containing the driven 

 bees. If two or more driven lots are to be united (249) having 

 queens of different values, only the best queen should be 

 allowed to remain. The bees in each lot should be thoroughly 

 dusted with flour from a dredging box or sprayed with thin, 

 scented syrup from an asperser to make them unite peaceably. 

 The Asperser (Fig. 71) is sometimes used for the purpose; 

 but spraying with syrup, — a messy, 

 troublesome expedient at the best, is 

 not to be recommended. Since the dis- 

 covery that ordinary flour will serve the 

 purpose as well as scented syrup, the 

 kitchen dredging box has come into 

 favour as a cheaper, and less trouble- 

 some pacifier. When this has been 

 attended to, the two skeps can be 

 brought with the bottoms together, and 

 dumped on the ground, so as to throw 

 those in the upper skep into the lowei 

 one. The bees, being then shaken 

 together thoroughly, and having the 

 same scent, will unite peaceably. In the evening-, when they 

 have settled down, they can be carried off, or forwarded per 

 rail or post, as described above, and placed upon their new 

 stand, the canvas or zinc being removed. Such lots should 

 be fed up liberally' and rapidly. (315). [See also Illus. p. gg, 

 and "Automatic transfer from Skep to Modern Hive." (254).] 



161. Study the Subject — To begin intelligently, study the 

 subject thoroughly. Make yourself familiar with the nature 

 and habits of bees and with the most improved methods of 

 management. If you have an experienced bee-keeper in your 

 neighbourhood, or among your friends, gather from him all 

 the information that he can supply, and ask him to allow you 

 to witness his manipulations from time to time. But, when 

 you have studied a Bee Guide and have seen some of the opera- 

 tions connected with bee-keeping, do not suppose that you can 

 afford to proceed with the industry without keeping yourself 

 in touch with the approved literature or apiculture. In order 

 to take advantage of the latest discoveries, and of the experi- 



