202 BEE-FARMING. 



demned stocks. For my part, I have been most successful 

 in the apiaries which are the pride of many of our farmer's 

 wives. In nearly every instance they manage their stocks 

 on the old-fashioned method in small straw skeps, and, if 

 not seen in time, they invariably destroy them over the 

 brimstone-pit. They are, however, very thankful to any 

 one who will save them the trouble of destroying them, or 

 of driving the bees instead. The author of The Manual 

 of Bee-keeping states : " Driven-out bees may often be 

 bought in rural districts at about \s. per pound, and are 

 well worth the money to the advanced apiarian." I have 

 hitherto, by a little courtesy and tact, had no difficulty in 

 securing more condemned stocks than I have been able to 

 find room for just for the trouble of driving them. It 

 would be considered an insult to offer to pay for them in 

 the North of England ; they are only too grateful to be 

 saved the trouble, and think this abundant recompense for 

 the bees. Nay, in many instances, I have been asked 

 how much they must pay for my labour in coming to take 

 them. I take with me empty skeps, &c. on an old 

 perambulator, which will hold eight or ten stocks when 

 tied on, returning home just in the cool of the evening. 



Every bee-farmer whose stocks are weak should 

 strengthen them with driven stocks, and then feed them 

 up liberally before the winter sets in. Every second swarm 

 or cast should be inspected, for these are often worthless as 

 separate colonies until increased with condemned stocks. 

 Looked at even in this light, driven bees are exceedingly 

 valuable. Many apiarians believe it is impossible to place 

 condemned stocks in empty hives to make them into good 

 colonies. I say, once for all, " try it " ; nothing can be 

 done without trying. It is very easy to say it can't be 

 done, but this should never be said without adding, " I 

 will not take the trouble to try." Some of my best and 

 most profitable stocks have been formed solely out of con- 



