and its Economic Management. 21 



box above, fitting exactly mouth to mouth, and then con- 

 tinue to rap upon the sides of the lower hive with the 

 hands or a stout stick ; but on no account jar in such a 

 rough manner that the combs become broken from their 

 attachments, or many of the inmates will be smothered in 

 the honey. Soon the bees will be heard roaring on their 

 march upwards, being in fear of the trembling combs 

 falling about them. In the first instance a cloth may be 

 secured around the junction of the two hives, thus 

 ensuring that no bees rush out ; after a few minutes this 

 should be removed, and the upper skep tilted from front 

 to back, having first been secured to the other by a 

 skewer, or anything that will keep the rims together with- 

 out shifting. The operator will soon prefer to do without 

 the cloth and keep the skeps parted from the first, when 

 the queen may be captured as she ascends, if desired. It 

 should be so arranged that the back where the bees are 

 to run up shall be the highest point, and that at the ends 

 of the lines of combs, or the bees will not go up readily. 

 Then transfer the combs to the frame hive, and return the 

 bees, as explained in Chapter XI. One is often told to 

 procure a pail or table whereon to place the skeps while 

 driving, but the operator will find the earth a far better 

 " stand " than any other. 



Bumping. 



After first intimidating the bees, another way to get 

 them out, is to invert the hive and give it one or two 

 sharp " bumps " on the ground, at the edge of the crown 

 on the side parallel to the combs. If carefully done the 

 combs break away from the sides and top of the hive 

 much cleaner than they can be taken out by any other 

 way. Brush the bees off into an empty skep with a feather, 

 and transfer the combs as desired. This plan was first 



