54 THE BOOK OF THE HONEY BEE 



the top ; string should also be tied around the skep near 

 the mouth, and then, by means of a stick thrust beneath the 

 knots in the crown of the skep, two persons can readily 

 carry it between them without in any way disturbing 

 the bees. 



The next process is to transfer the bees from the 

 skep to the frame hive, and this cannot be better done 

 than by the method so often described in the " British 

 Bee Journal." 



Procure a square of American cloth, large enough to 

 cover the tops of the frames, in the same manner as do 

 the quilts. In the centre of this cut a hole about 

 4 inches square. Lay this cloth (glazed side down- 

 wards) on the top bars of the frames, then over this 

 place the skep (after subduing the bees with a few puffs 

 of smoke), stop up the entrance to the skep so that the 

 bees are compelled to use the frame hive as an " entrance 

 hall." Cover all space not occupied by the skep as 

 warmly as possible, so as to make the lower hive warm 

 and tempting to the bees. Build up the hive by means 

 of "lifts" sufficiently high so as to admit of the roof 

 covering the whole, and for the time being all is done. 



After a few weeks' interval, if the bees are observed 

 to be working vigorously, subdue, and gently lift up the 

 skep and examine the lower hive. If brood be found 

 therein, it may safely be assumed that the queen has left 

 the skep and is laying in the frame hive. This being 

 so, place a queen excluder zinc immediately over the 

 American cloth and replace the skep, so that the bees 

 may return and hatch out any brood that may be present. 

 In three weeks' time, all brood remaining in the skep 

 will have hatched out, and the skep may be removed, 

 together with the excluder and American cloth, and the 

 frames provided with the usual quilts. 



Under ordinary circumstances, never purchase a skep 

 in the autumn. There is always the risk of the stock nqt 



