30 
shoulders being in contact should be removed; spaces left 
between the frame shoulders permit the escape of heat or pos- 
sibly of bees, and they also permit of the comb being drawn out 
beyond the proper limit, which may lead to the destruction of 
bees, possibly of a queen, when the frames are pressed together. 
The remaining frames of the hive may now be placed in the body- 
box behind the dummy (Fig. 81). Then spread the canvas 
quilt (26) over the frames, covering them so that no bees can 
escape. If the quilt is wrinkled and does not lie flat, it should 
be damped and flattened out. Over the quilt place a couple of 
woollen or other coverings. The lift (22) should now be placed 
on the body-box in its summer position, that is, resting on the 
body-box ; in its winter position it is inverted, and slips down 
outside the body-box; the roof (23) should then be placed on 
the lift, with the cone bee-escape (42) to the front. The hive is 
now ready for the swarm. 
In warm weather in which swarms usually rise, it is best to 
7 defer hiving the swarm until the heat of 
76. Hiving a Swarm the day has passed, but on a cool day the 
dy ae bees may be hived at any hour. The treat- 
F ment of swarms is referred to later (98). 
There are two methods of hiving a swarm; the best and proper 
methcd to follow, when circumstances permit, is to hive the 
bees through the hive entrance ; but special conditions, such as 
coming rain or approaching darkness, may render it desirable 
to adopt the speedier method of throwing the swarm into the 
brood chamber through the frames (80). To hive the swarm 
through the entrance (Fig. 29), place the hiving-board (54) in 
position against the alighting board (20), and spread a white 
sheet on the hiving-board, placing stones on the edges of the 
sheet to prevent the wind from blowing it about and to keep it 
in position. Open the sliding doors of the hive to their fullest 
extent; also open the floor ventilator if one is fitted. Now 
bring the skep or box containing the swarm to the new hive. 
If the afternoon is hot and close, it is a good plan after uncovering 
the bees to sprinkle them lightly with cold water to prevent 
their rising; then catching the swarm-box or skep firmly with 
both hands, jerk all or part of the bees out, depositing them on 
the sheet in a continuous stream from about.six inches from the 
hive entrance to the extreme lower end of the hiving-board. 
This will prevent the bees unduly crowding at the entrance, and 
will permit of observing the queen’s movements. Now turn 
back the veil so as to facilitate finding the queerf; it is impor- 
tant to discover the queen as quickly as possible, and not to lose 
sight of her until she is observed entering the hive. If the 
bees do not show an inclination to enter the hive, they may be 
urged on with a feather ; it will soon be noticed that eed will 
fae almost simultaneously towards the entrance, through 
which they will move in a continuous stream. If, however, 
the bees still show a disinclination to enter the hive, a sharp 
