CHAPTER II 



TO SECURE OR " TAKE " A SWARM 



Should the bees when swarming (see chap, iii., sec. i, 

 "The Domestic Economy of the Hive") manifest a 

 tendency to fly afield and not to settle readily, they 

 may be induced to do so by throwing water over them 

 from a garden syringe in imitation of rain. Sand, or 

 fine dry garden soil, may be used should neither water 

 nor syringe be at hand. 



The bees having finally settled (a few still flying 

 around may be neglected), it only remains to secure them, 

 which should be done as follows : Supposing the bees 

 to have settled on a low-lying branch of a tree or bush, 

 spread a sheet on the ground immediately beneath the 

 cluster, then with one hand hold an inverted straw skep 

 underneath the swarm, and with the other hand give 

 the branch a vigorous shake, when the majority of the 

 bees, with the queen amongst them, will fall into the 

 skep. Reverse the skep, thus bringing it into its natural 

 position, and place on the sheet, propping up one side 

 with a stone or anything handy, when in due time the 

 flying bees will join their companions within. 



Should the queen still remain with the few bees 

 adhering to the branch, the bees within the skep will 

 soon discover her absence and will again cluster on the 

 branch, when the operation of shaking, etc., must be 

 repeated. If the particular branch selected by the 

 swarm as an alighting place is of no particular value, it 



