AUTUMN MANAGEMENT. 231 
weighed the hive, calculate how much may be taken 
with safety, and cut away the external combs 
accordingly. The bees may then be returned.” 
Some operators vary the above proceeding, and 
perhaps diminish the danger, by placing, as the first 
step, the empty hive at the bottom, and the full one 
gently upon this. After making the junction 
complete between them, the two hives are reversed 
carefully together, so that the unoccupied one 
comes to the top, and the drumming then proceeds. 
This should be continued from five to ten minutes, 
according as circumstances indicate its necessity. 
There are diversified ways of uniting the bees 
after they have been driven into an empty hive. 
Dr. Dunbar says, “Turn up the stock-hive which 
is to receive the addition to its population; with a 
bunch of feathers, or a very small watering-pot, 
drench them with a solution of ale and sugar, or 
water and sugar, made a little warm. Do the same 
to the expelled bees; then placing these last over 
the stock, mouth to mouth, a rap on the top of the 
hive will drive them down among the bees and 
combs of the underneath hive. Place this last on 
its pedestal, and the operation is completed. The 
strong flavour of the solution will prevent the bees 
from distinguishing between friend and stranger.” 
Payne advocates the middle of a fine day as the 
best time for driving; removing the hive to be 
operated upon to a shady place, and then inverting 
over it an empty hive, as already described. A little 
smoke might sometimes be needful. Having ascer- 
tained that the bees have gone into the upper hive, 
