MANIPULATION OF FRAME HIVES. 159 



entering the new hive, they may be gently separated 

 with a spoon or leafy twig where they gather in 

 bunches on the sheet, or they may be carefully ' spooned 

 up ' and shaken out close to the front of the hive. 

 As these go in with fanning wings, they will raise a 

 peculiar note, which communicates to their companions 

 that they have found a home, and in a short time the 

 whole swarm will enter, without injury to a single bee." 

 In the Journal of Horticulture, Mr. Woodbury says : — 

 " If combs be fixed in the frames, the crown-board may 

 be removed and the cluster knocked out of the. straw 

 hive on to the top of the exposed frames. The' bees 

 will disappear Between them with the utmost alacrity, 

 delighted to have met with a ready-furnished dwelling, 

 and the top, or crown-board, having been replaced, the 

 hive should at once be removed to the position it is in- 

 tended to permanently occupy. ' ' 



No one should attempt these operations without being- 

 protected by a bee dress and a pair of india-rubber 

 gloves, which are sting-proof. Some persons also take 

 the precaution of tying strings round the ancles of the 

 trousers, lest some straggler should determine to attack 

 the outposts of the enemy, which, to say the least, might 

 perplex the operator in the midst of his task. Elastic 

 india-rubber bands are good for this purpose, or a pair 

 of "knickerbockers" would be useful. If Wellington 

 boots are worn, the trousers may be tucked within the 

 leather, in which case no bee can molest the operator, 



