52 THE TfOTTAGE and farm bee keepfr. 



state of the weather, which ought absolutely to be perfectly calm — 

 the golden hour is arrived ; let him sally forth to his apiary. The 

 cloudier the day the better ; if the sun shines, however, let the opera- 

 tion be conducted in the shade of some friendly wall or overhanging 

 tree. 



There ought generally to be two persons assisting in the operation, 

 both well armed with bee dress and gloves ; for this is sometimes a 

 business of no little peril, although in most cases I have found the 

 bees remarkably quiet. The instinct of loyalty, or the passion of fear, 

 seems at such times to neutralise all other passions and instincts. Ev- 

 ery article requisite for the operation of driving having also been pro- 

 vided, and lying by ready for use, let the business be opened, (say at 

 about 10 o'clock, a. m.,) by the chief operator seizing hold of the full 

 hive, which must be very carefully and gently adjusted bottom up- 

 wards in a pail, while the assistant replaces it instantly with an empty 

 hive, to amuse the bees, as they come back from the fields, and those 

 also which may chance to escape during the process which follows. 

 A second empty hive is now placed over the full one reversed, the 

 cloth thrown over both, and tied securely round ; after which, drum- 

 ming with sticks is resorted to until the bees have hummed themselves 

 up into their temporary attic ; in short, the same treatment is adopted 

 as in the process of autumnal driving already described. The greatest 

 care, however, must be taken throughout to avoid the slightest jar or 

 concussion of the full hive, both in moving it and drumming it after- 

 wards, so as in no way to endanger the breaking of the combs inside. 

 These being mostly heavy with brood, the heat of the hive, too, being 

 very great, (often above 100° F.,) any violent handling would be sure 

 to dislodge some of them.* When it becomes evident, by the loud 

 humming within, that the bees have begun to climb, in which case 

 the queen is almost sure to be with them, let the upper hive be taken 

 off. Ten minutes, or even less, will generally suffice for the operation 

 at this time ; because it is desirable to leave a considerable quantity 

 of bees behind in the old hive to hatch out the remaining brood. 

 When taken off, the hive into which the bees have ascended, if it is 

 the intended permanent dwelling of the bees, must be placed on a 

 bottom board, and set as near as may be to the old stand, on a stool 



* See Appendix, Note F. 



