PEUNING. 207 



their swarms as early as possible. One early swarm is 

 worth two late ones. 



DIPPICTJLTY IN DRIVING IN COOL WEATHER. 



Further, it will be found much more diflScult to drive 

 the bees out of a hive in the cool weather of March or 

 April, than in summer, as they seem unwilling to leave 

 their warm quarters and go into a cold hive. The first 

 thing necessary, is to get rid of the bees, and the operation 

 of pruning is performed much quicker when they are driven 

 out in the outset. If there are not bees enough in the 

 hive to interfere, it will not pay to prune the combs. 



BEST TIJIB. 



The best time to begin is just long enough before to com- 

 plete it by dark. First, blow some smoke under the hive, 

 turn it over, and set on it an empty hive the same size. 

 Stop all crevices, and rap on the lower hive a few times, 

 with a light hammer or stick. The bees becoming alarmed, 

 will set up a loud buzzing, and most of them will com- 

 mence filling themselves with honey. Proceed with the 

 drumming, and when they have taken all the honey they 

 can carry, they will readily ascend into the upper hive. 

 The loud buzzing is not so much a sign of auger as of fear. 

 In five or ten minutes, one edge of the upper hive may be 

 raised to inspect progress. When most are up, set the 

 upper one on the old stand, get another empty one, and 

 drive out more, shake these down in front of the others, 

 and they ■will immediately enter. If there are only a few 

 left scattered here and there on the combs, they may be 

 disregarded. By this time, none of them are disposed to 

 sting, unless they have Italian blood in them. 



Should it be desired to drive the bees out permanently, 

 for reason of diseased brood, or other causes, you have 

 only to continue the process until all are out. They will 



