134 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



them as described above. A few minutes after having 

 been fed, they will be found moving lightly about over 

 their combs, when they may be shaken out readily in less 

 than half a minute. This expert " express " mode of 

 driving bees from light hives is useful to us ; for we have 

 many to drive, and little time to do it. But the thing is 

 so simple and easily done, that the greatest novice in the 

 world in bee-management could, on seeing it once done, 

 do it weU. We often perform this operation by candle- 

 light, by feeding the bees about sunset, and taking them 

 into a room, or bam, or hothouse for a short time. Say 

 in about half an hour afterwards, they may all be readily 

 shaken on to the floor of the room, and a hive placed 

 over them ; and often there is not a bee lost in doing it. 

 Of course the hive containing the bees should be placed 

 on its stand before they begin to fly next morning. 



Hives beyond 30 lb. are not so easily handled. A man 

 of ordinary strength is unable to put them in motion 

 rapid enough to make the bees loose their foot-hold and 

 go forward. 



The art of uniting swarms is a very valuable one, and 

 easUy learned. The hive to receive the bees, or additional 

 swarm, is turned up, and some sugar-and-water, strongly 

 scented with mint, is poured over the bees. In about 

 fifteen minutes after they have been sprinkled, the other 

 swarm (temporarily driven into an empty hive) is shaken 

 over the combs and bees, and some more syrup sprinkled 

 over them. The hive is again placed on its board, and 

 the work is done. This minted syrup prevents the bees 

 from discovering which are strangers, and therefore pre- 

 vents fighting. On the Continent the bee-keepers have 

 begun to use nutmeg grated in the syrup, which they 

 give to swarms when uniting them. It is the same idea 

 and practice. If the nutmeg smells stronger than the 

 mint, it is better for this purpose. We could unite a 



