31 



the bees still show a disinclination to enter the hive, a sharp 

 tapping on the hiving-board will make them do so. Some 

 operators wedge up the body-box so as to afford a freer 

 entrance to the bees, but this should not be done^ as there is 

 a risk of crushing the queen when afterwards lowering the 

 body-box. When all the bees have entered the hive, the 

 operation has been completed. 



If the queen has not been discovered when hiving, the hive 

 should be looked at -about an hour later ; 



77. Queen lost when if it is then noticed that bees are clustering 



Hiving. outside the hive, such clusters should be 



spread out with a feather and examined, as 

 possibly the queen may be in one. If the queen has been 

 destroyed or lost in transferring or hiving, the Ibees will issue 

 from the hive in force a few minutes after having been hived, 

 and search for her all about the exterior of the hive. If it 

 appears that the queen has been lost, act as described in 

 paragraph (152). 



The hive should be examined about two days after hiving a 

 swarm to ascertain if the queen is present 



78. Examination of and uninjured, and if the foundation has not 

 Hive after Hiving broken down. To do this, remove the roof 



a Swarm. (23), lift (22), and quilt ( 26) , replacing 



the latter by the subduing-cloth (65) ; then 

 draw back the dummy so as to afford space to permit of the 

 frames being drawn back and ex.amined one by one. If the 

 weather is mild, frames may be gently lifted out for exami- 

 nation, one at a time, care being taken not to strike them 

 against adjoining frames nor the hive sides, and to hold 

 them so that the foundation or comb shall always 

 hang perpendicularly ; if held otherwise the weight of the 

 bees, or of the bees and honey, is very liable to break the 

 foundation or newly-made comb. If the foundation or comb 

 of any frame has broken down, hold the frame over the body- 

 box, and, with a feather, brush the bees off it into the hive ; 

 then insert a fresh frame of foundation in place of the frame 

 withdrawn. Split in two, two balls of naphthaline (172), and 

 drop them on to the floor-board, between the back frame and 

 the dummy ; renew the supply when these become exhausted. 

 Before closing the hive do not fail to make sure that the top 

 bar of the dummy and the shoulders of all frames in the brood 

 chamber are pushed as far forward as possible. 



The length of time which should elapse before inserting a 



frame to spread the brood chamber (90) 



St k fte H- •" ^^*®'" hi"^™g ^ swarm will vary very much 



^Sw'rm^^°^ according to circumstances, ibut as it is a 



bad practice to open hives oftener than is 



necessary for examination, it may be stated, as affording some 



guidance to the beginner, that if a swarm of about four pounds 



weight has been hived on say four frames, and that the weather 



continues favourable and the honey flow is good, the hive 



