100 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



can do little in such a case. If a small cluster reach the 

 place chosen by the hees, all should be brought back and 

 thrown on the front of the old hive. 



Swarms generally alight on a branch of a tree or bush 

 or hedge, if these grow near their mother hives. Where 

 there are no trees or hedges, they will settle on a stone, or 

 post of a fence, or clod, or big weed in a garden. It is 

 wise to have some bushes near an apiary managed on the 

 swarming system ; for swarms can be easily hived from 

 branches that bend. 



Hiving is usually done by holding the hive prepared for 

 the swarm underneath it, and then giving the branch on 

 which it hangs a sudden shake or jerk, when all the bees 

 lose their hold and fall into the hive. The hive is set on 

 the ground with its crown downwards, and mouth and 

 swarm exposed. The board is instantly placed on and 

 over the whole, just giving the bees time to gather theii 

 feet and get hold of the sides of the hive (about half a 

 minute) before it is inverted into its proper position. 

 Let it stand for a few minutes to gather in all the bees 

 that have not been hived — the noise inside speedily at- 

 tracts them — and then let the hive be placed where it is 

 to remain. When a swarm goes into a thick hedge, or 

 settles on a stone or wood fence, the hive is placed over it, 

 so that the bees can easily run up into it. If on the trunk 

 of a tree, the hive is tied on above it ; and when it settles 

 on the branch of a tree far from the ground, the branch is 

 usually cut and let down. 



IsTothing should be put in hives intended for swarms 

 but cross-sticks and guide-combs. Ignorant people often 

 wet their insides with sugared ale or sugar-and-water, a 

 most foolish practice. 



Another foolish practice, and a widespread one, is to 

 make a great effort to induce swarms to settle by drum- 

 ming on kettles and frying-pans, thus producing artificial 



