DRIVING. 175 



bably be seen (unless she has ah-eady gone up), when she 

 may be captured, if desired, or allowed to proceed with 

 her subjects; when the stream of Bees begins to slacken 

 look down amongst the combs and, probably, various 

 clusters of Bees will be observed ; start them with a puff 

 of smoke or stir them with a feather, when they will 

 most likely run to join the main body. Experience will 

 soon give such confidence that it will not be thought 

 necessary to tie the two hives together with the cloth, 

 but proceed at once with the open driving, especially if 

 the object be to capture the Queen only, for she is just 

 as likely to go up with the first rush as to stay till the 

 last. Having succeeded in the driving without seeing 

 the Queen, great care must be taken that she be not left 

 behind in the hive, which should be carefully searched. 

 The Bees that have gathered in the temporary hive on 

 the floor-board may now be shaken into the other ; or if 

 it be intended to place the driven Bees on their old 

 stand, they may be left to fly home after being removed 

 elsewhere. If driving is attempted in wet or cold 

 weather, or late in the evening, the Bees will often be 

 troublesome to move ; and, as a very little cold benumbs 

 them, numbers who have flown will be lost, from their 

 inability to reach their home, so that this practice should 

 not be pursued at such times without adequate cause ; 

 but should necessity arise, and it be found or thought the 

 Bees will be reluctant to leave, they may be induced to 

 go, by warming their new domicile and sprinkling them 

 with warm syrup, thus creating the excitement necessary. 

 Mr. Pettigrew employs a method of shaking Bees out of 

 a straw skep in lieu of driving, which he thus describes : 

 " When hives are less than thirty pounds in weight we 

 shake them out in less than half a minute ; no smoke 

 is used, the Bees are taken unawares ; the hive to receive 



