6o A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



remain quietly in the skep till five- or six o'clock in the 

 evening: then having the frame hive ready in the place 

 it is to stand — all frames duly furnished with comb 

 foundation or guide comb — remove the crown board or 

 quilt, and carefully bringing the swarm to it, with a smart 

 shake precipitate the whole of the Bees on to the top of 

 the exposed frames — the major part of the Bees will 

 quickly disappear downwards, and the remainder may be 

 persuaded with a feather to follow, until there is not too 

 many on top to allow the crown board or quilt to be 

 replaced, when the work is done. 



Another method is to spread a sheet or large news- 

 paper on the ground near where the stock is to stand, 

 and on it place the selected hive with its frames (which 

 should have been previously furnished with guide combs) 

 in position ; prop up the front an inch or so with a stick 

 or stone, let the crown board remain on, then gently lift 

 the skep, bringing it up to the frame hive, and with a 

 quick, sharp jerk, shake the whole of the Bees on to the 

 sheet immediately in front of the hive's entrance. The 

 Bees will be so alarmed and terror-stricken at all the 

 occurrences of this eventful day, that scarcely one will 

 fly or sting, but make all possible haste to run under and 

 up into the hive placed for them ; they may be assisted 

 in this by gently sweeping them towards the entrance 

 with a brush, stiff feather, or goose's wing. Search the 

 skep well to make sure the Queen is not left behind, a 

 few Worker Bees will not matter. It will soon be 

 perceived, if the Bees are entering the hive quickly, if 

 so, the Queen is there and all will go well ; but, if her 

 majesty be absent, the Bees will crowd all about the 

 outside of the hive, and although they may go in, they 

 will not remain there. Finding this to be the case, we 

 must seek an interview with her majesty, examine every 



