24 TREATMENT OF SWARMS. 



a yard square, is spread on the ground, and the straw hive 

 and clustering bees (care being taken not to shake them 

 out) are then gently lifted over it, the corners are tied over 

 the top, a piece of cord tied round all, and the swarm is 

 securely packed for a journey by rail, or, as in this case, for 

 putting into a frame hive which is supposed to be waiting 

 for its new tenants. If the straw hive has not been shaken 

 so as to break the cluster, the easiest way will be to place it 

 on the swarming-board as far as possible from the frame hive. 

 The canvas is untied and pulled away, the straw hive is 

 lifted and the swarm is thrown out with a rapid, jerk on the 

 board, on which the bees spread out in all directions as if 

 undecided what to do. About half-a-dozen of them are 

 lifted with a spoon or swept with a feather into the hive 

 entrance, into which they pass with a loud hum, which is 

 speedily taken up by the others, and in a few seconds every 

 head is turned towards the new abode. If the hive entrance 

 is too small, as is very often the case, it will require clearing 

 with a feather occasionally as the bees go in, so as to keep 

 them from clustering on the front, but if the hive has a 

 movable floorboard which has been lowered in front, the 

 bees may safely be left to hive themselves after a few are 

 seen to enter. In the evening the swarming board can be 

 taken away, the floorboard can be raised into its place by 

 means of the wedge, and the swarm may be said to have 

 started housekeeping in its new home. If the weather is 

 unfavourable for honey gathering, the feeder must be kept 

 filled with syrup. Indeed, it is a safe rule to give food to 

 bees whenever they will take it, which will only be when 

 they are unable to gather it in the fields. 



Two or three days after hiving, the swarm may be looked 

 at to see how the work progresses, and, in doing this, the 

 novice may be said to take his first step in advanced bee- 

 keeping. The smoker must be filled and lighted as before 

 directed, the veil must be put on, and the oil of wintergreen 

 rubbed on the hands. The cover is taken off the hive, a 

 corner of the quilt is raised, and one or two puffs of smoke 

 sent in. After waiting a few seconds, part of the quilt may 

 be turned back, so as to expose one or more of the frames 

 to view, the division-board is moved back a little, so as to 



