22 THE APIARY; OK, 



tures, the other tin keeps all the bees in the glass close prisoners. 

 After having been so kept a short time, the apiarian must see whether 

 the bees in the glass manifest symptoms of uneasiness, because if they 

 do not, it may be concluded that the queen is among them. In such 

 a case, replace the glass, and recommence the operation on a future 

 day. It is not often that her majesty is in the depriving hive or 

 glass; but this circumstance does sometimes happen, and the 

 removal at such a time must be avoided. When the bees that 

 are prisoners run about in great confusion and restlessness, the 

 operator may then conclude that the queen is absent, and that all is 

 right. The glass may be taken away a little distance off, and placed 

 in a flower-pot or other receptacle where it will be safe when 

 inverted and the tin taken away, then the bees will be glad to 

 make their escape back to their hive. A little tapping at the sides 

 of the glass will render their tarriance uncomfortable, and the glass 

 may then be taken into a darkened room or out-house with only a 

 small aperture admitting light which must be open ; the bees, like 

 all insects, make towards the light and so escape. The bee-master 

 should brush them oft' with a feather from the comb as they can be 

 reached; but on no account, if there are many bees, should the glass 

 be left, because the bees that are in the glass will gorge themselves 

 to their full and speedily bring a host of others from the adjacent 

 hives, who, in a very little time, would leave only the empty combs. 

 It is truly marvellous how soon they will carry all the store back 

 again, if allowed to do so. An empty glass should be put on to the 

 hive in place of the full one, as it will attract the bees up, thereby 

 preventing the too close crowding of the hive ; and, if the summer 

 be not too far advanced, they will work more honey-comb in it. 



The taking away of the end boxes is a somewhat similar process ; 

 but they should on no account be taken at the same time as the 

 glass, or indeed at the same time as any other hive may be — rolled 

 we were going to say, for it is robbery to the bees, — they intended 

 the honey for their winter food, and are much enraged at being 

 deprived of it. Pirst shut down the dividing tin ; the bees in the 

 end box are now prisoners separated from the hive, keep them so 

 half an hour, then take away the box bodily to another part of the 

 garden, or into the dark out-house as before recommended. 



It may not be out of place here to say something respecting 

 the enthusiastic inventor of the Collateral Hive— Thomas Nutt, 



