HIVING: UNITING I AND TRANSFERRING BEES. 



131 



HIVING BEES. 



out the hive doors, 

 and with them 

 wedg'C up the front 

 of the hive an inch 

 or two from the 

 floor board. If the 

 swarm hangs not 

 more than a foot 

 or two above tlie 

 hiving board, give 

 the branch on 

 wliicli it hangs a 

 smart sliake, 

 tlirowing the bees 

 on to the white 

 clotli. If the branch 

 be too high, cut it 

 off, without dis- 

 turbing the clus- 

 ter, and shake the 

 bees on to the 

 white cloth. They 

 will speedily run 

 into the hive; 

 when, if a sharp look out be kept for the queen, she may be 

 seen passing in. Should the bees delay to enter the hive, take 

 up a handful, and place them at the entrance ; or, with a feather 

 move them on. The " music " which they will make on dis- 

 covering their new home will act as a " quick march " to the 

 remainder, and the swarm will soon be hived. When the bees 

 are in, throw the white cloth over the hive, letting it hang 

 down in front, thus sheltering from the sun until the flying 

 bees join the others, when the hive must be carried to its 

 permanent stand, for, otherwise, the bees, beginning work, will 

 mark the spot, and will return there after the hive has been 

 moved. Feed for a few days. (236). 



234. Swarms in High Trees If the swarm should settle on 



a very high branch, the hive need not be removed from its 

 stand. Get a clean skep (78), mouth upwards, under the 

 cluster, and shake the swarm into it. If you cannot reach high 

 enough, hold up the skep on a pitch fork, and get someone to 

 shake the bees in ; but take care to have your skep so secured 

 that it will not topple over, and drop the swarm upon your head. 

 The job may be more satisfactorily carried through if you pro- 

 vide yourself beforehand with a half sack, arranged on a hoop, 

 and with a long handle, after the fashion of an angler's landing 

 net. Get the sack under the swarm ; shake the bees in ; give the 



