NATURAL INCREASE. 31 



transferred into the skep. Presuming that the swarm 

 is hanging from the branch of a tree, a sleep should be 

 held in the left hand under the cluster, while the right 

 hand is used to shake the branch sharply and thus 

 cause all or the bulk of the bees to fall into the skep. 

 Many bees will doubtless fly about in the air, but the 

 skep must at once be turned over gently, and placed 

 either on the ground, if the bees clustered on a low 

 branch, or on a table, if higher on the tree. Under 

 one side of the skep must then be placed a stone or 

 brick to give access for the bees flying about, and also 

 for ventilation, which will be much needed, as the 

 temperature of the cluster is very high during the com- 

 motion which ensues. The queen must be secured in 

 the skep, otherwise the bees will return to the branch. 

 When the bees cluster round the hive and some form 

 themselves into lines at the entrance fanning with 

 their wings we may conclude that the queen is safe 

 inside. 



Should the bees desert the skep and return to the 

 tree the operation must be repeated. There may still 

 be several bees flying about the spot and settling on 

 the branch. This is because of the scent left behind. 

 As soon, therefore, as the swarm is hived, that part of 

 the tree upon which the bees settled should be well 

 syringed with water ; or a few handfuls of soil should 

 be thrown over it to destroy the scent. As soon as 

 the swarm has been safely hived the skep should be 

 moved carefully to its stand, there to remain unless it 

 is to tenant an " Ivo " or movable-comb hive. In 

 either case re-hiving had better be deferred until 

 evening, as swarms when much disturbed during a 



