DRIVING OR DISLODGING BEES 61 
form their operation is before sunrise. I will describe my other 
method, and bee-keepers may choose which they prefer. 
In driving, I have in every instance drove the bees into my boxes, 
and the operation is as follows: First obtain a piece of board large 
enough to cover the bottom of the old hive, containing the bees you 
wish to drive; cut a hole in the centre of this, very nearly the size of the 
inside of one of the boxes: if you have no compass-saw to cut out this 
opening, split open the board, or take two pieces half the width, put their 
edges together, mark for the hole, and they may then be sawed with 
a hand-saw, and afterwards united and secured together ‘by nailing a 
couple of thin cleets on the upper side, against the side of the box, so 
as to retain it in its place while driving the bees. Close the commu- 
nications in the sides of the boxes with the dividers, and drive a small 
tack against the back edge, to prevent them from moving, so as to let 
the bees escape; close the opening in the front also with a piece of 
wood. Set one of the small boxes on the top, then drive a good 
size nail in the two opposite edges of the board this box stands on, 
and tie a cord from the nail over the top of the boxes, so as to secure 
them together firmly. See that the surface of the board the boxes are 
attached to is even and level, to fit the old hive; provide some rods 
the size of your finger, or pieces of flour-barrel hoops will answer. 
And also tools to take off the side of the old hive after the bees arc 
out, and a long knife and pans to receive the combs and honey, as 
it will be necessary to remove them, unless the new hive can be set 
where the old one formerly stood. In this case the combs need not be 
taken from the old hive, but the hive taken to a dark room or cellar, 
and the remaining bees will leave and join their former companions. 
Commence the operation by blowing a few whiffs of smoke under 
the bees in the old hive, then turn it upside down carefully and 
place the box over it, and stopping every little crevice between the 
hive and box with rags, so as to secure every bee; and if a cord 
were put around the whole now, and tied securely, it would pro- 
bably save trouble, as there is danger of the board being moved and 
let out the bees. (I always do this, as I find it the most safe way.) Now 
let 2 couple of persons, with a rod in each hand, commence striking 
smartly on the sides of the old hive, commencing near the bottom, 
