DRIVINS OB. DKUMMING BEES. 



■67 



removal of queens, &c., it is not to be oomparecl with open driTing, for 

 which commence aa before, but place the hive to receive the driven 

 swarm over the other at an angle, as in Fig. 30. We usually thrust two 

 ordinary kitchen skewers through the lowtr hive near the rim, and about 

 Sin. from each other, so 

 as to afford a convenient 

 stop *or the upper skep, 

 the front of which is held 

 by one hand. Mr. Hunter 

 has introduced a neat 

 little wire hinge for fixing 

 the skepa together, while 

 he adds the wire rods as 

 in the figure, for holding 

 the skeps in any desired 

 relative position ; these 

 have the considerable ad- 

 vantage of entirely free- 

 ing the hands of the 

 operator. By looking at 

 our woodcut, we shall 

 see that the skeps are in 

 contact at the point to- 

 wards which the combs 

 run, and this is important, 

 as here the bees escape 



most easily, and seethe out in the greatest numbers. The shadow, too, in 

 the illustration indicates how the light should fall. Let the operator stand 

 with his back to it, and he then will secure a thorough view of the bees as 

 they ascend. And as we continue thudding, careful watch should be kept 

 for the queen, who wiU generally be espied eagerly seeking security by 

 clambering amongst her retreating children, which make no attempt 

 to escape by the opening between the hives, nor do they at all threaten to 

 use their stings. They are both gorged and terror-struck, and in these 

 circumstances are as harmless as flies. Generally speaking, even the veil 

 is Vjuite unnecessary in drumming, although the beginner should use one. 

 Mr. Pettigrew has wisely pointed out that, if the weather be cool, the 

 skep into which the stock is to be driven should be warmed ; and to this we 

 will add the suggestion, which experience has shown us to be of consider- 

 able value, that in cool weather or where honey is not abundant, the 

 bees should be sprinkled with warm thin syrup about a quarter of an hour 

 before attempting to drive. This syrup should contain not more than a 

 pound of sugar to a pint of water (if thicker it would be likely to glue the 

 bees together), and of this a giU will be sufficient for a large stock. For 



Pio. 30. OiEs Dkitisg. 



