HIVES. 99 



and at once set down close to the earlier one, and at 

 dusk the last-named is placed on the top of it. The 

 lower of the two first boxes — now the central — has its 

 door run in, and the slides of the lowest are removed 

 and pegged as before. Should the evening prove chilly, 

 a whiff of smoke may be administered to both ; but this 

 is generally considered quite unnecessary, as it is a well-> 

 established fact that no Bee leaves with a swarm till it has 

 filled its honey-bag, the lower population now ascends 

 with a most confiding hum, evidently firm believers in the 

 old Scotch proverb, " Plenty freens when ye hae ocht." 



" The morning light reveals usually nothing but the 

 surplus Queen dead on the floor-board. The lowest 

 box is then removed, and the entrance of the second 

 again opened. Should any Bees be clustering in the 

 former, the removal can be postponed till the middle of 

 the day, when the Workers will be more abroad. 



"The object of removing the third box, is to restrict 

 the room, so that the combined swarms may all the 

 sooner complete comb-building, and packing to the 

 glass, be thankful to press up into the super which has 

 been placed thereon, fitted with guide-comb. Com- 

 munication between stock and super is afforded by 

 drawing the outer slide only on either side. Should the 

 weather be favourable, and honey abound, it is at once 

 taken to ; if not, it is better to run in the slides again, 

 and wait for a day or two ; then, under more favourable 

 circumstances, make a fresh trial, as it is a curious fact 

 that Bees often will swarm rather than accept a super 

 open to them, which they have previously rejected. 

 Supposing, which is generally the case, the Bees have 

 taken possession, in a very few days white comb appears 

 at the windows ; then, and not till then, the third breed- 

 ing-box is placed as a nadir underneath all, its slides 



H 2 



