30 THE APIARY; OE, 



slides and substitute perforated zinc, wrapping the hive up in a 

 coarse cloth of open texture (dispensing with the floor-board during 

 transit when the distance is great). 



It is necessary only to send the lower or stock hive to the party 

 furnishing the swarm, taking the precaution to fix the shdes at top 

 with tacks, as the hive has to be inverted to receive the bees. They 

 are shaken into it in the usual manner, as they cluster around the 

 branch of the tree or shrub on which they may have chosen to alight. 

 After the hiving is accomphshed, the hive should be left near to 

 catch any stragglers; for there will always be a few; towards 

 evening, close the entrance, and remove them to the exact position 

 they are intended permanently to occupy. Success depends on this, and 

 also on their careful removal on the day or evening of swarming. 

 The following morning the bees labour in the new location, marking 

 well their habitation before they take flight, and to which they 

 will not fail to return loaded with luscious store. 



A fortnight must be allowed for filling the stock hive; then, 

 if the weather be fine and warm, they will prepare to swarm again, 

 as will be indicated by the thermometer rising rapidly to 100 

 degrees or upwards ; one of the zinc slides on the wooden top 

 must now be withdrawn, and a bell glass put on covered and pro- 

 tected by the upper hive, the other glasses may then be given 

 in the same manner ; a day or two after which, should the weather 

 continue favourable, aU signs of swarming will at once disappear, 

 the bees now having increased store room which they wiU readily 

 fill with comb. It is often found useful to attach a piece of 

 clean empty honey comb to the ventilating tube of the glass ; it is 

 an attraction, and induces the bees to commence working in it sooner 

 than they otherwise would do. The ventilator should also remain 

 open during the day to allow the hot air to pass away from the interior, 

 thereby contributing to the whiteness and beauty of the work ; the bees 

 enjoy the refreshment of coolness thereby afforded, and they work the 

 faster for it. At evening all ventilation should be stopped, and the 

 glasses wrapped round with flannel or some warm material, for 

 the reasons mentioned on last page. 



The directions for taking honey are also the same as befqre 

 mentioned. 



The holes on the wooden top of this hive are of a peaked shape, 

 being a preventive against slaughtering any bees whilst pushing the 



