SWAmilNG. 221 



near a yard in ]eng.tli. When a swarm is ready, to is- 

 sue, the bottom of this .frame is set up before the hive, 

 one edge of the bottom rests on the bottom-board, the 

 other against the side of the hive ; the top sets off from 

 the hive at an angle of about 45 degrees, under which 

 a brace is set to hold it. The muslin at the bottom is 

 to wrap around the hive at the side to prevent the es- 

 cape of the bees. The swarm rushes into this mthout 

 any hesitation. 



When done coming out, the muslin at the bottom is 

 drawn over it, and the frame is set in an upright posi- 

 tion, and allowed to stand a few minutes for the bees 

 to get quiet in the top. It is now to be laid on its 

 side, the door opened, and the bees hived. In the few 

 trials that I have given it, I succeeded without diffi- 

 culty. But I would remark, that stocks from which 

 swarms are caught in this way, must not be raised at 

 the back side, as a part of the swarm would issue there, 

 and not get into the net. Mr. Loucks had his hive di- 

 rectly on the board ; and he told me he kept them so 

 through the season ; the only places of entrance was a 

 space cut out of the bottom of the front side, about 

 three inches wide by half inch deep, and a hole in the 

 side a few inches up. You will thus perceive that 

 stocks from which swarms are hived in this way must 

 be prepared for it previously. Also, it will be no use 

 to such bee-keepers as depend on seeing their swarms 

 in the air. It will be beneficial only in large apiaries, 

 where several swarms are liable to issue at once ; the 

 swarming indications well upderstopd, aiid the apiari- 

 an on the lookout. 



