48 PLEASUBABLE BEE-KEEPING. 



Handling Bees. 



Frequenters at agricultural and other shows, where 

 the bee-tent is erected, in which to exhibit and give 

 an explanation of the best methods of bee-manage- 

 ment, will know how simple a matter it is literally to 

 handle the driven bees and scoop them up with the 

 hands, like so many currants. It is seldom, however, 

 that the actual handling of bees will be needful, while 

 the moving of frames of one hive or another may be 

 of frequent occurrence. In approaching a hive, 

 attention must first be directed to those bees on 

 guard at the entrance, which- a slight puff of smoke 

 will drive into the hive, and also have the effect of 

 preparing the colony for manipulation. The roof and 

 lift must next be removed, the latter in order that the 

 frames may be moved with greater ease. The operator 

 should stand on one side of the hive, with the entrance 

 at his left hand, or at the back, if the frames run 

 parallel with the front of the hive. 



When the quilts are rolled back a puff of smoke 

 should be driven across the tops of the frames, but it 

 is not advisable to expose all the frames unless a 

 thorough examination is to be made. When the quilts 

 are removed there will be, as a matter of course, a 

 draught through the brood nest. This may be pre- 

 vented by turning the " Ivo " entrance block', so as to 

 close the entrance, or otherwise block it up. The bees 

 returning from the fields wiU crowd at the place of 

 ingress, but, as the hive should be open for a very 

 short time, they may remain there until the quilts 

 are replaced, and the entrance is again opened. 



