THE COTTAGE AND FARM DEE KEEPER. 53 



or table — not on the stand itself, to avoid crushing any of the throng- 

 ing bees about it. In a few minutes, if the queen be in it, all the out- 

 lying insects — those, I nifean, which have returned from the fields, and 

 have hitherto been busied in searching for their home and their queen 

 — will have joyously entered it. Towards evening, it may be put on 

 the stand from which the old hive was taken. Should it be desired 

 to settle the bees in another hive than that in which they were driven, 

 (and I advise the use of the smaller double hive for autumn spoliation, 

 see Chapter IV,) all that is required, is to knock them out era masse 

 upon the ground in front of the hive, which ought before to have been 

 set, (likewise on the ground,) on its own board, one side of it also be- 

 ing slightly elevated on wedges. When the major part of the swarm 

 have crept up into it, let it be gently removed to a position near to 

 the old stand, and treated as in the other case. 



While one person is thus employed, let the other, immediately on 

 seeing the upper hive taken off, turn the old hive upon a bottom board, 

 and, should he perceive neither too many nor too few bees in it, carry 

 it to a distant and shady part of the garden, or to its intended stand, 

 where, however, it must be kept as cool as possible. Without loss of 

 time, in order to prevent the escape of too many bees, let him tie it 

 up with the list bandage, previously thrusting a few pieces of slate 

 under the edge of the hive, to allow of the admission of air. In this 

 state, it must remain till the third morning, early, when the list band- 

 age may be unfastened. An immediate rush of bees will take place, 

 some of whom will find their way back to their old locality, now oc- 

 cupied by the new swarm ; nor is it to be considered a misfortune that 

 they should do so, as they will beneficially strengthen it. The most 

 part, however, will certainly return back again to the old hive on the 

 new stand, which will in a few days seem as populous as ever, owing 

 to the rapid development of brood. 



Should it have been found, however, on removing the upper hive, 

 that only a, few have ascended into it, then must it be first ascertained 

 if the queen is among them. This will quickly appear by knocking 

 them out in front of their intended dwelling; for, while they will 

 march readily up into it, if she is with them, they will, on the other 

 hand, missing her, soon be in a fever of anxiety and restlessness. In 

 the former case, set the new hive on the old stand at once, while the 

 old hive is removed, but to a greater distance, and treated as before, 



