BEES, BKE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTURE. 85 



fields. Care must be taken tliat all crevices througli which it is 

 possible for the bees to escape from the united hives should be 

 effectually closed. When the two are fairly united, the operator 

 will proceed by rapping the full hive gently with the hands or a, 

 couple of sticks, more particularly on that side where the combs 

 are the most thickly placed— -that is, if the hive be not equally 

 filled. 



It generally happens that in about fifteen minutes the bees 

 regularly commence the ascent ; their exodus will be known by 

 the distinct rushing sound which is always noticed when a colony 

 of bees is on the move. The first thing bees do when disturbed is 

 to fill their honey bags, as they invariably do at swarming time, 

 consequently after the first rush into the new hive is over, as in the 

 case of a swarm, the " Hitting " bees are not much disposed to take 

 wing. When the noise made by the ascending bees has been heard, 

 and has in good degree subsided, the cloth may be removed, and 

 the old hive, now deserted, may be taken indoors, and if a few bees 

 yet remain, they may be brushed off with a feather. An experienced 

 apiarian on first hearing the rushing noise before mentioned, will not 

 hesitate to tilt the top hive over a little on one side, so that he 

 may watch the bees during the ascent ; the queen may be seen 

 passing up, and if the operator desires to take her away, he can 

 secure her by placing a wine glass over her. This expedient is often 

 resorted to in the autumn when stocks are to be united, for in such 

 a case the removal of the queen prevents some fighting. 



K the taking of the honey be the object of the bee-master, then 

 " driving " is manifestly a better plan than to resort to the fumes 

 of sulphur for the purpose ; for the bees from whom their store is 

 taken, can be joined to stocks that are weak in numbers, with 

 considerable advantage 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 successful, 

 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. 



