202 THE beekeeper's manual. 



by placing her on the twig of a tree, they will soon cluster 

 around her in the manner already described. 



A word as to the manner of catching the queen. I seize 

 her very gently, as I espy her among the bees, and by tak- 

 ing care to crush none of them, run not the least risk of 

 being stung. The queen herself never stings, even if han- 

 dled ever so roughly. 



In removing the frames from the hive, it will be found 

 very convenient to have a box with suitable rabbets in which 

 they may be temporarily put, and covered over with a piece 

 of cotton cloth. They may thus be very easily protected 

 from the cold, and from robbing bees, if they are to be kept 

 out of the hive for some time ; and such a box will he very 

 convenient to receive frames that are lifted out for examina- 

 tion. In returning the frames to a hive, care must be taken 

 not to crush the bees where their ends rest upon the rabbets ; 

 they must be put in slowly, so that a bee, when he feels the 

 slightest pressure may have a chance to creep from under 

 them, before he is hurt. 



The honey-cover, for convenience, is generally in two 

 pieces : these cannot be laid down on the hive, without dan- 

 ger of killing many bees ; they are therefore very carefully 

 slid on, so that any bees which may be in the way, are push- 

 ed before them, instead of being crushed. If any bees are 

 upon such,parts of the hive as to be imprisoned if the out- 

 side cover is closed, it should be left a little open, until they 

 have flown to the entrance of the hive. It cannot be too 

 deeply impressed upon the bee-keeper, that all his motions 

 must be slow and gentle, and that the bees must not be in- 

 jured or breathed upon. If he will carefully follow the di- 

 rections I have given, he may soon open a hundred hives 

 and perform any necessary operation upon them, without 

 any bee-dress, and yet with very little risk of being stung, 



