i82 THE APIARY. 



stocks that are weak in numbers, with considerable ad- 

 vantage to the future prosperity of the apiary. 



When the removed bees are to be joined to another 

 stock, the operator will proceed as follows : — At dusk, 

 dislodge the bees on to a cloth, sprinkle them with sweet 

 syrup, and place the hive to which it is intended to join 

 them over the mass; they will gradually ascend into 

 the hive placed for them, and early next morning the 

 hive, with its slender stock thus augmented, may be 

 removed to its stand. Should the operator not have been 

 successfiil, or not sufficiently skilful to gain possession of 

 the queen, he may leave it to the bees themselves to 

 decide which queen they will have. 



By this plan of "driving," artificial swarms may be 

 secured by an " expert" even in common hives, though 

 those do not afford the facilities for such a purpose as do 

 the bar or bar-and-frame hives. 



CHANGING OLD STOCKS TO NEW HIVES. 



We frequendy find that the possessor of a stock of 

 bees in a cottager's common straw hive is desirous of 

 removing the whole stock of bees and comb into one of 

 our improved hives, in which the honey may be obtained 

 wdthout the destruction of the bees. . We mostly dis- 

 courage such a transfer, attended as it is with much 

 labour, and requiring a considerable amount of apiarian 

 skill. An old-fashioned hive may very readily be rendered 



