CHAPTER XIV 



DRIVING 



Driving has for its main object the removal of bees 

 from straw skeps in order to obtain the honey therein 

 without sacrificing the lives of the busy workers. At 

 first sight, this would seem to be an operation somewhat 

 outside the scope of modern beekeeping, but cottagers 

 who keep their bees in old-fashioned hives, and who 

 yearly "drown" the inhabitants of those hives they 

 wish to take, are still to be found in most districts. 

 Many such are only too glad to give the condemned 

 bees to anyone who cares to take them. 



The beekeeper, during his first season, should seize 

 upon any opportunity that arises for driving. The 

 operation is interesting, and if carried out carefully with 

 all due precautions, perfectly safe ; and a successful drive 

 is calculated to inspire one with increased confidence in 

 handling and manipulating bees. The bees so obtained 

 may be united to any existing colony that is at all weak, 

 or if spare worked out combs are in hand containing 

 sealed stores, a new colony may be made up from two 

 or three lots of driven bees united in one hive, provided 

 always that the bees are free from disease. 



The apparatus required comprises : — 



Driving irons. These may be made out of two 

 pieces of iron or steel wire, about \ inch in thickness, 

 bent in the manner shown in the figure, the distances 

 between the points should be 12 inches, and the points 

 themselves about i inch in length. 



A few sharp skewers of the same strength as the 

 irons, and about 6 inches in length. Have these made 



