98 THE BOOK OF THE HONEY BEE 



so that in a very short time the lower hive will be entirely 

 empty of bees. This operation may take from three to 

 twenty minutes. Whilst the bees are running up, look 

 out for the queen, and if necessary seize her. She may 

 be stored in an empty matchbox. It is better, as giving 

 a direction to the bees, to slightly tilt up the lower hive, 

 the highest point being where the two hives are joined. 



After removing the hive to be driven from its stand, 

 some operators place an empty skep on the stand to 

 catch all bees returning from the fields. The writer 

 generally places a square of cheese-cloth or calico on the 

 old stand and, immediately the bees are driven, puts the 

 skep containing the driven bees on the cloth. In a few 

 minutes the majority of the flying bees rejoin their 

 companions, then the cloth is tied by its four corners 

 over the top of the skep and afterwards still further 

 secured by tying string around the rim. 



One or two precautions are necessary : — 



1. As driving always takes place after the close of 



the honey season, be particularly careful not 

 to spill syrup about, otherwise robbing and 

 fighting will speedily follow. 



The deprived hive containing its combs and 

 store of honey should be removed indoors as 

 speedily as possible for similar reasons. 



2. As the point of contact between the two skeps 



is comparatively small, the rush of bees is very 

 likely to be much greater than this narrow 

 bridge can well accommodate, and in conse- 

 quence a considerable number of the bees on 

 either side of the junction run down on the 

 outside of the skep. In order to avoid this, 

 tie a handkerchief from iron to iron, stretching 

 it moderately tightly, or better still, have the 

 two irons connected with a piece of calico 12 

 inches wide and about 30 inches long. Imme- 



