62 DRIVING OR DISLODGING BEES. 
and working up gradually. A cloth should be covered over the boxes 
to exclude the light. When a majority of the bees have ascended 
into the upper boxes, (which may be known by removing the cloth,) 
raise the box a trifle, and blow a little smoke under the bottom, and 
set it quickly into the hive; at the same time have another person 
ready with another box, prepared to set over the old hive, and continue 
the drumming until you find nearly all the bees have ascended into 
the box, when it may be set into the hive. I prefer to remove the 
combs immediately from the old hive, so as to obtain a portion of the 
old combs that contain young brood and eggs, if possible; this I cut in 
pieces to fit the small boxes on top of the large ones, and after sliding 
out the glass, I set these pieces in, leaving a space between them, and 
by cutting small strips and inserting between the combs, they may 
be retained in that position until the bees attach them with wax. By 
adopting the above method, I have found that the bees are not liable 
to leave the hive after driving, as they will immediately ascend to 
these brood-combs, and nurse and take care of the young brood, and 
appear much more contented than if robbed of them entirely. 
T have driven swarms in May, and taken fifty lbs. of surplus honey 
from them the same season, and left a good supply for winter use. 
A gentleman in Ohio informs me that he drove a swarm from an 
old hive into one of mine, on the evening of the 18th of May, 1852, 
and it swarmed twice during the season, and procured sufficient honey 
to sustain them through the winter. 
I have drove bees at different seasons, and I find that the earlier 
they are drove the better; I would, however, not recommend driving 
earlier than the first of April, and then they will require feeding until 
fruit-trees blossom. 
As a general thing, bees that are driven the first of May, will swarm 
as early as those that are not, and often prove more healthy and 
prosperous, and produce a larger amount of honey. 
