174 



A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



the Bees become terror-stricken, and, after a time, start 

 in a stream for the upper hive, giving out a rushing 

 sound which may be plainly heard if listened for. The 

 emigrants are now harmless, and will neither fly away 

 nor sting, consequently the towel may be removed, and 

 the top hive tilted up to an angle of 45 degrees, being 

 kept in position there by the two skewers, with which 

 pin the hives together right and left of their point of 

 junction, which must be at the place where the swarm 

 of Bees is thickest. 



Notwithstanding the skewers, the top hive is often 

 found to slip and re-precipitate the Bees on to the 

 combs, and to obviate this, and free one hand, I have 

 designed some little appliances, as Figs. 71 and 72, 

 ~-^ which are made of wire about 

 one-eighth of an inch in diame- 

 ter, all ends sharp-pointed. The 

 two larger portions of Fig. 71 

 are united by a coiled wire of 

 half their thickness, the whole 

 forming a complete hinge, the 

 lower pair of points to be driven 

 into the edge of the full skep their full length : the other 

 pair into that of the empty hive, which may then be 

 inclined at any desired angle, and supported in front 

 by the other wire or a pair of them. Figure 72, whose 

 points may be fixed in the straw where needed. After 

 again separating the two hives, if the hinge be left on 

 the one containing the Bees for a time, it will be found 

 useful as a prop to tilt up the hive on the floor-board 

 while the straggling Bees are coming home to their new 

 quarters. 



The progress of the exodus being watched, and a 

 sharp look-out kept, the passage of the Queen will pro- 



Fig. 71. 



Fig. 72. 



