HOW TO BEGIN 49 



wide by 2 to 3 feet long, so as to form a continua- 

 tion of the flight board. This board should slope 

 downwards from the hive in the same manner as the flight 

 board, and the whole should be covered with a small 

 sheet or tablecloth, the upper edge of which should be 

 close to the entrance of the hive, and secured with two 

 or three drawing-pins. The outer case of the hive 

 may be removed entirely, leaving simply the brood 

 chamber with frames and quilts ; the former being spaced 

 somewhat more widely than the normal distance indicated 

 by the metal ends. Further, to facilitate the entrance of 

 the bees, the front of the brood chamber should be 

 propped up about an inch with a couple of wedges. 

 Have also in readiness the bottle feeder and a quantity 

 of syrup made according to the receipt for "spring 

 feeding." 



The evening of the day on which the swarm issued is 

 the best time to hive it. So, having prepared all things 

 in accordance with the previous instructions, and having 

 donned veil and gauntlets, we proceed to the scene of 

 operations. 



Carefully remove from the skep, without inverting, 

 whatever coverings may have been used to secure the 

 bees. Lift up the skep and take a peep inside. The 

 bees will be found clustered in the crown of the skep 

 and lining its sides. Now hold the skep firmly in both 

 hands, mouth downwards, and with a sharp downward 

 throw jerk the bees on to the board in front of the hive, 

 throwing them as close to the entrance as possible. The 

 more violent the jerk (no other word is so expressive) 

 the more successful the operation, and the sudden throw 

 so astonishes and frightens the bees as to subdue all 

 desire to sting, and scarce a bee will even attempt to 

 fly. In a few moments they recover from their astonish- 

 ment, and those nearest the entrance of the hive soon 

 discover therein a desirable residence, and the intel- 



