NATURAL SWARMS 55 



varying length of time Jhey will again take wing. 

 If this happens the swarm will probably be lost, as 

 the bees may travel many miles and at a high' 

 rate of speed. • 



The operation of hiving is really very simple, 

 and consists of merely placing an empty skep or 

 box beneath the bees and dislodging them into it 

 by a vigorous shake. Then gently place the re- 

 ceptacle on the ground, crown upwards, and raise 

 it an inch or so by placing a small stone under 

 the bottom edge. Soon the flying bees will have 

 entered, when a Cloth may be drawn over the 

 .mouth of the skep and the whole at once removed 

 to the position to be permanently occupied. 



It may be said that apart from the presence 

 of queen-cells in the hive there afre no certain 

 signs that a colony is about to swarm. The bees 

 are often listless and apathetic just previous to 

 swarming, but this is not always the case, nor 

 is it an invariable indication of their intentions. 



It may be that the swarm will have clustered 

 in a rather difficult position, as in the bottom of 

 a hedge, or on the limbs or trunk of some tall 

 tree. In such cases the ingenuity of the bee- 

 keeper will be called into play to effect the cap- 

 ture. If the bees cannot be shaken into the skep 

 they must be driven into it by means of a feather 

 dipped in a solution of carbolic acid and water, 

 or by, the aid of a smoker. In nearly every case 

 it will be necessary to adopt one of the two 

 methods givenj and when carbolic acid is used 



