82 



winter, it will thus securely bind the canvas cover ; screw 

 nail the floor-board to the body-box with one screw or nail < 

 each side, tie the body-box firmly to the floor-board with rop 

 so securing it that if the alighting board breaks in transit, tl 

 ropes round the body-box will not slacken (Fig. 52) ; the roof a) 

 any spare fittings should be packed as a separate parcel ; aft 

 the bees have returned and settled down in the evening, secur* 

 close the entrance ; this may be done by tacking perforat 

 zinc over the entrance, or by closing the doors tightly, ai 

 tacking them to prevent them from opening, or by some oth 

 effective means suited to the special construction of the hi^ 

 The hive, if to be sent by train, should be labelled " LI"V 

 BEES, WITH CABE, THIS SIDE UP.'" 



XXVI.— AETIFICIAL SWAEMING. 



Under certain conditions artificial swarming may be practis 

 with advantage by experienced bi 

 185. Artificial keepers. If it is desired to increase t 

 Swarming. stocks in the apiary or to provide swan 



for sale , the bee-keeper may select the m< 

 suitable stocks for the purpose, and, subject to their being 

 fit condition for artificial swarming, may select the most a 

 venient time for that operation. If a stock shows that it is 

 fit condition for swarming and is going to swarm (92), t 

 is prevented from doing so by unfavourable weather, an ai 

 ficial swarm may advantageously be made, as the bees v 

 then settle down steadily to work, and valuable time will 

 gained. When it is desirable to permit swarming, or wh 

 swarming appears inevitable, and the bep-keeper must abs( 

 Himself from the apiary when the swarm may be expected 

 issue, loss may be prevented by making an artificial swar 

 Artificial swarming should only be attempted by bee-keep 

 who from pfevious experience are thoroughly conversant w 

 the conditions which indicate that a stock is in fit condit: 

 for taking an artificial swarm from it ; much harm may be d( 

 by making artificial swarms when the conditions are not si 

 able for doing so ; it should never be practised when the ex: 

 ence of foull)rood in an apiary is suspected. 



The stock from which the swarm is to be taken should 



crowded with bees, and should cont 



186. Conditions drones ; if the swarm is to be sold, it E 



for Artificial be taken off under any conditions 



Swarming. weather which permit of the hive be 



opened without injury to the stock ; bu 



the swarm is to be made in order to increase the stocks in 



apiary, it should only be taken when bees are flying, and w 



honey is coming in freely, though an artificial swarm may 



taken with safety in weather which is not fine enough to ind 



bees to swarm naturally. 



