32 
leaving the central frames about two inches apart. Next, 
if necessary, sprinkle the bees lightly with water (76), then while 
firmly holding the skep or swarm-box with the open side up, 
shake it so as to detach the bees from the sides, and then rapidly 
reversing it, throw the bees down so that they may fall between 
the frames into the body-box. Then leaving the frames spread 
out, cover them at once with the quilt and replace the roof. 
The bees willrapidly go down amongst theframes, after which the 
dummy and frames should be pressed to the front and covered. 
Next morning examine the hive and remove any frame the 
foundation of which has fallen, replacing it by a new frame of 
foundation (90); afterwards treat the stock as already described 
in the case of a swarm hived through the entrance ('76). 
VIII. DRIVING. 
Driving is practised to remove bees from skeps or boxes having 
fixed combs, either for the purpose of trans- 
81. Driving ferring the bees to a bar-frame hive, or in 
Appliances. order to make an artificial swarm; if the 
bees are in a skep, have in readiness a 
chair, an empty skep to receive the driven bees, two driving- 
irons, a skewer, a subduing cloth (48), a feather dipped in 
subduing solution (180), and if the stock is in a round-topped 
skep, a bucket or large pot of such size that the skep when in- 
verted may rest in it with at least half the skep exposed above the 
rim of the bucket or pot. Driving irons (Fig. 28) are made of 
No. 4 wire or light iron, about 12 inches long and with 14 inches 
at each end turned at an angle and pointed. 
Driving should be performed in the forenoon, as bees move more 
sluggishly in the afternoon. It will be 
82. Open Driving assumed that the stock to be driven is in 
from a Skep. askep. If the weather is moderately cool, 
and the honey flow is slight, spread a 
subduing cloth (48) flat under the skep, then lower the skep 
down on the cloth, placing a small stone or bit of wood under 
the front rim so as to keep that rim about one inch above the 
subduing cloth. The fumes rising from the subduing cloth will 
cause the bees to gorge (63) and drive them upwards. Then 
place the bucket a few yards from the skep. After three 
minutes remove the stone, let the skep down on the subduing 
cloth, and then lift and invert the skep, taking care that its 
mouth is entirely covered by the cloth, thus confining the bees 
therein; if the weather is hot, or the honey flow is good, the 
skep to be driven should be at once inverted after placing it on 
the subduing cloth; then place the inverted skep in the bucket 
and fix an empty skep into position on the stock hive, as in- 
dicated by Fig. 30, using the skewer to pin the skeps together 
where their rims meet, and the driving irons to hold the empty 
skep at the proper angle ; the skeps should be skewered together 
at that point on the rim of the inverted skep towards which the 
