i6 BEE-KEEPING IN WAR-TIME 



intruder. The ground in front of the hive for at least a yard 

 must be kept clear of all vegetation. 



The legs should stand on bricks to give stability and also 

 to prevent decay of the wood. The floor-board should stand 

 perfectly level from side to side, also from back to front if the 

 frames run parallel with the entrance ; if they run at right 

 angles, which is generally the case, then the front should slope 

 about half an inch to throw out the moisture which condenses 

 inside. 



The brood chamber is now put in position on the floor- 

 board ; the tops of the frames must be covered with a quilt, 

 i.e. a piece of calico or ticking cut just a little larger than 

 the size of the brood chamber, to keep the bees confined to 

 the frames and also to keep them warm ; over this place about 

 three pieces of some good thick warm material, such as house 

 flannel, or several layers of neatly folded newspapers will 

 serve the same purpose. 



Upon the arrival of the swarm in its travelling case, it 

 should be placed in a cool room, such as the cellar, until about 

 seven o'clock (normal time) in the evening, when it can be 

 put into the hive. 



The hive is prepared for its reception by removing aU the 

 outer casing, if a W.B.C. The entrance is made about a 

 couple of inches high, by propping up the front of the brood 

 chamber with the entrance shdes ; a board about three feet 

 long, the same width as the floor-board, is placed sloping 

 from the ahghting board to the ground ; over this spread a 

 cloth to make a smooth surface for the bees to travel up. 

 Open the travelling case containing the swarm, shake it 

 vigorously to loosen the bees, then shake them all out on 

 to the cloth about six inches away from the entrance to the 

 hive._ The natural inclination of bees is to travel up hill; 

 the inclined plane thus provided conducts them into the 

 hive. When all are inside the brood chamber is lowered to 

 its proper place and the outer portions restored to their normal 

 position. 



It is advisable to feed a swarm for about a week after 

 hiving. The food given is syrup made from white cane sugar • 

 to one pound of sugar add one pint of water, heat over the 

 fire until the sugar is dissolved. This syrup is put into a 

 feeding bottle having a perforated metal cap with an index 

 finger, which fits on to a feeding stage placed over a hole 

 cut for the purpose in the calico quilt. The number of holes 



