TEAVELLING BEES 225 



the honey will be at the bottom. The combs are now 

 standing up instead of being suspended from the roof, 

 and they carry best in this position. 



In most cases the boxes are too leaky to move as 

 described, and the simplest plan is to enclose the whole 

 outfit in a tight hessian bag, and securely tie the mouth 

 with strong string. In cool weather the latter mode of 

 packing will do very well ; it is far too close, however, for 

 summer time. Eemember also that bees, when shaken 

 violently, will cluster like a natural swarm, therefore the 

 starting of a journey is the most critical time. After a 

 mile or two is traversed the bees will give little or no 

 trouble. 



TRAVELLING SWARMS. 



Swarms of bees without combs will travel well at 

 almost any season if packed by an experienced apiarist. 

 In summer, many swarms are sold and despatched in 

 special wire cloth carriers. Bees heavy with honey (like 

 human beings after a banquet) require plenty of air, and 

 should not, after caging, be allowed to stand in the hot 

 sun. 



