228 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v.. 



equally filled on all sides. A stock is in the best condi- 

 tion for driving twenty-one days, or thereabouts, after a. 

 first swarm has issued ; the brood will then have hatched 

 out, the bees will quit more readily, and there will be no 

 loss of larvae in the cells. 



It generally happens that in ten or fifteen minutes the 

 bees regularly commence the ascent ; their exodus will 

 be known by the distinct rushing sound which is always 

 noticed when a colony of bees is on the move. The 

 first thing bees do when disturbed is to fill their honey- 

 bags, as they invariably do at swarming time ; conse- 

 quently, after the first rush into the new hive is over, as 

 in the case of a swarm, the "flitting" bees are not much 

 disposed to take mng. When the noise made by the 

 ascending bees has been heard, and has in a great degree 

 subsided, the cloth may be removed, and the old hive, 

 now deserted, may be taken indoors ; and if a few bees 

 yet remain they may be brushed off with a feather. An 

 experienced apiarian, on first hearing the rushing noise 

 before mentioned, will not hesitate to tilt the top hive 

 over a little on one side, so tliat he may watch the bees 

 during the ascent; the queen maybe seen passing up, and 

 if the operator desires to take her away he can secure 

 her by gently taking her between thumb and finger. Those 

 who have become experienced in this operation find that 

 it can safely be performed wA'Ca. the hives fixed open from 

 the first. This is called " open driving," and can be 

 effected with increased facility by sticking two skewers 



