CHAPTER XXII. 
DRIVING OR DISLODGING BEES. 
Every bee-keeper should understand this branch of bee culture, 
_ as much benefit may be derived from it in many instances, in chang- 
ing the bees from old hives to new ones. Various ways and means 
have been resorted to to accomplish the result. Some use water, 
others tobacco smoke, others fungus (or puff-ball), such as is found in 
our meadows, in the fall and spring. 
I have used all of these meaus in several instances, but I have had 
the best success generally when I have used a little smoke of burning 
linen or cotton rags, in connection with drumming on the hive with 
rods. In using water it injures the honey, and there is more danger of 
destroying the bees. The best way to drive with water, (or the way 
that I have had the best success,) is to prepare a cask with one head 
out, a little longer than the hive, and large enough to receive it; have 
sufficient water in readiness to fill the cask, and after blowing a 
whiff or two of smoke under the hive containing the bees, bore 
a hole in the top of it and turn it upside down carefully, 
and set the other hive on the top of it, and immediately wind a 
cloth around the hives, at the joint where they connect, so as.to 
entirely confine the bees, or there will be trouble in a short time, for 
if there is left an opening Jarge enough for a bee to escape, he will 
find it, and so will others. Put a small quantity of water in the cask, 
and set the hives in it, commence pouring in water slowly, and at the 
same time drum smartly upon the lower hive with sticks. Ifthe cask 
ig too small to afford room to drum on the hive, it may be done for a 
few minutes before the hives are set in the cask. Pour in the water 
slowly, occupying some half hour in filling the cask. When the top 
hive is taken from the other, it should be set on the stand where the 
old one was taken from. Set the old hive a short distance from the 
apiary, and take off one side and remove the combs, brushing off the 
bees remaining among the combs, upon a cloth, and they will mostly 
revive and return to the hive on the stand. The best time to per- 
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